Date: 11.07.2012
Time: 12:00
Registry and Chambers:
Nerma Jelačić, Spokesperson for Registry and Chambers, made the following statement:
Good afternoon,
The Prosecution’s presentation of evidence in the trial of Ratko Mladić started on Monday. The Chamber is currently hearing the testimony of David Harland, who was a Civil Affairs Officer and Political Advisor to UNPROFOR from June 1993 until the end of the conflict. His testimony will be followed by that of General Sir Richard Dannatt, former commander of UK Armed Forces. He will provide expert evidence on issues of military command and control. Hearings in this case will continue next week. The summer recess will start on Monday, 23 July for a period of three weeks.
President Meron will be in Geneva on Friday to address an informal meeting of states parties to the Geneva Conventions on strengthening compliance through international criminal law and international criminal tribunals. The meeting has been organised by the Government of Switzerland with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Office of the Prosecutor:
Frederick Swinnen, Special Advisor to the Prosecutor, made no statement.
Questions:
Commenting on the fact that the Defence indicated it would require nine hours to cross-examine David Harland, a journalist asked about the procedure in allocating number of hours for cross-examination. Nerma Jelačić responded that the Chamber will decide on the time available to the Defence for cross-examination of each witness. The Chamber’s decisions and reasoning on this matter will be public. She added that the judges have issued guidelines on the presentation and tendering of evidence to the parties and the allocation of time for cross-examining depends on each witness. Frederick Swinnen added that the Prosecution has been granted 200 hours to present its case. The first prosecution witness was a viva-voce witness and therefore the examination-in-chief was longer as for witnesses whose testimonies are tendered into evidence in written form.
Asked whether the parties’ exhibits tendered into evidence in the course of proceedings are available to the public, Nerma Jelačić responded that the time frame in which the exhibits tendered publicly in the courtroom is determined by the Chamber in charge of the case and upon consultation with parties. In the case of Ratko Mladić, the public can request copies of exhibits on the same day by submitting a formal request to the press office. The request is then forwarded onto the parties who assess whether any of the content is confidential before the Chamber approves the request.
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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