| Please note that this is not a verbatim transcript of the Press Briefing. It is merely a summary. ICTY Weekly Press Briefing Registry and Chambers: Jim Landale, Spokesman for Registry and Chambers, made the following statement: Good afternoon, First, I would like to express concern on behalf of the Tribunal over the reported theft in Zagreb over the weekend of a number of CD ROMs containing documents that relate to cases at the Tribunal. The ICTY is looking at what the implications of the loss of this material might be. In light of this unfortunate incident, I would like to take this opportunity to respectfully remind the media, especially in Croatia, that the publication of protected material, in violation of a protective order from the ICTY, could lead to contempt charges being made against the individual or individuals responsible. This especially relates to the identification of witnesses who have been granted protective measures by a Judge at the ICTY because it is believed that there is a genuine threat to their security as a result of their involvement in a case at the Tribunal. As stipulated in the Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence, the violation of protective measures by anyone, including the media, can result in a term of imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of Euro 100.000. Next Wednesday, 9 March 2005, the President of the Tribunal, Judge Theodor Meron, will attend and address a ceremony in Sarajevo to mark the inauguration of the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Special Department for War Crimes of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina. President Meron, as the Tribunal’s representative on the Implementation Task Force Joint Executive Board, which was lead body in coordination between the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and ICTY on this issue, has played an integral role in the establishment of the Chamber, its legal framework and related facilities such as its detention unit, ensuring that all aspire to the highest international standards. While he is in Sarajevo, President Meron will also meet with the High Representative, Lord Ashdown, and the President of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Judge Meddzida Kreso. Beginning this Saturday, eight officials from the ICTY are going to participate in Sarajevo in a four-day training programme on international law for the judges, prosecutors and other staff of the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Department for War Crimes at the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Tribunal views this event as an excellent opportunity for ICTY staff from both Chambers and the Office of the Prosecutor to meet their counterparts in Sarajevo and to share with them the expertise and experience gathered during the last 10 years here in The Hague. The Tribunal's participation in the training programme is part of the continuing support that we are providing to the establishment of the War Crimes Chamber at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina A group of Judges and Prosecutors from Croatia are conducting a working visit to the Tribunal this week. The participants are Judges and Prosecutors designated to handle war crimes cases in Croatia who attended seminars on International Criminal Law organised by the Ministry of Justice of Croatia in coordination with ICTY Outreach in 2004. The working visit, funded by the US Government and organised at the request of ABA-CEELI and the Judicial Academy in Croatia and sponsored by ABA-CEELI, is aimed at strengthening the channels of communication between the Croatian Judiciary and the ICTY, and thus facilitating the transfer of knowledge, experience and relevant material, accumulated through the practice of the ICTY, to the domestic courts. Next, a reminder that the specially-appointed Rule 11 bis Referral Bench composed of Judges Orie (presiding), Kwon and Parker, will hold a hearing tomorrow starting at 2.15 p.m. in Courtroom I to hear submissions on the Prosecutor’s request for the transfer of the Stankovic and the Mejakic and others cases to Bosnia and Herzegovina, pursuant to Rule 11 bis. The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been invited to attend with regard to both cases, and the Government of Serbia and Montenegro has been invited to attend with regard to the Mejakic and others case, in light of its proposal that the case be transferred to Serbia and Montenegro. Next week, there will be status conferences in The Prosecutor v. Stanislav Galic on Friday 11 March at 2.30 p.m. in Courtroom I; The Prosecutor v. Milan Babic also on Friday 11 March at 4 p.m. in Courtroom I. Office of the Prosecutor: Florence Hartmann for the Office of the Prosecutor mentioned that Mrs. Del Ponte would also attend the inauguration of the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Special Department for War Crimes of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 9 March 2005. Questions: No questions. Documents: The Prosecutor v. Enver Hadzihasanovic & Amir Kubura 23 Feb 2005 – Joint Defence reply To Prosecution Response To Joint Defence Motion For Judicial Notice Of Adjudicated Facts. The Prosecutor v. Mejakic et al and Radovan Stankovic 22 Feb 2005 – Response To The Questions Of Specially Appointed Chamber of the ICTY. The Prosecutor v. Dragomir Milosevic 24 Feb 2005 – Response To The Questions Of Specially Appointed Chamber of the ICTY 24 Feb 2005 – Report From the War Crimes Project of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Prosecutor v. Blagojevic and Jokic 25 February 2005 – Amended Notice of Appeal. The Prosecutor v. Milan Martic 25 February 2005 – Partly Confidential: Prosecution’s Submission Of The Expert Report Of Military Analyst Reynaud Theunens Pursuant To Rule 94bis And Motion For The Admission Of Transcripts Pursuant To Rule 92bis(D). 25 February 2005 – Prosecution’s Submission Of The Expert Report Of Dr. Mladen Loncar Pursuant To Rule 94bis And Motion For The Admission Of Transcripts Pursuant To Rule 92bis(D). ***** |