The Hague, 12 March 2001
FH/P.I.S./574e

Earlier today the accused, Blagoje Simic, surrendered voluntarily to the Tribunal. Mr. Simic’s lawyer, Mr. Igor Pantelic, had previously informed me that Mr. Simic was going to surrender himself voluntarily. This is an unconditional surrender. No negotiation took place, no special conditions were granted. Mr. Simic and his lawyer arrived today in The Netherlands on a flight from Belgrade and I met both of them this morning.

Mr. Simic was indicted in July 1995, together with five other accused, for crimes allegedly committed in Bosanski Samac, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, during 1992. The charges include crimes against humanity, for the unlawful arrest, detention, confinement, inhumane treatment, deportation and forcible transfer of Bosnian Croats, Bosnian Muslims and other non-Serb civilians. All the co-accused charged in this indictment are now before the jurisdiction of this Tribunal. The sixth accused, Slobodan Miljkovic, also known as Lugar, was killed in Kragujevac, Serbia.

This development today is significant because it shows - again - that the impartiality of ICTY is duly acknowledged, even by its indictees. Besides, the surrender of Mr. Simic will allow the Tribunal to celebrate one trial with all the co-accused.

On the issue of cooperation with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), I would like to stress again that Blagoje Simic has voluntarily decided to surrender. The fact that this surrender was carried out with the knowledge and approval of the authorities of the Republic of Serbia is a first encouraging signal. But I still expect positive action to be taken by the Federal authorities of Yugoslavia on the number of issues I discussed with them in January, in particular the pro-active arrest and transfer of indictees.

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