"During the pre-trial procedure, the defence reacts only to the moves of the prosecutor and we respected all deadlines in that context, therefore we cannot be held responsible for lack of progress in preparations for the trial," Prodanovic told Hina over the phone.
Pre-trial judge Parker on Wednesday criticised the prosecution and the defence for lack of progress in preparations for the trial of Croatian generals Ivan Cermak and Mladen Markac. Judge Parker said that no satisfactory progress had been made since the last status conference held 120 days ago. The case seems to be getting out of control, Judge Parker said at Wednesday's status conference
The judge called on both parties to the proceedings to demonstrate greater progress in trial preparations by the next status conference. He also called on the prosecution and the defence to meet more often and not only on the day before status conferences.
Attorney Prodanovic said those meetings depended on the prosecutor, because the prosecution was calling such meetings.
Army general Cermak, former commander of the Knin Garrison following Operation Storm in the summer of 1995, and police general Markac, who commanded special police forces during the operation, are charged with crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war committed against Serb civilians in the Krajina region from August to November 1995.
The two generals are also accused of involvement in a joint criminal enterprise the alleged purpose of which was the permanent removal of the Serb population from the Krajina.
The ICTY issued the indictment in February 2004. Cermak and Markac surrendered on 11 March and rejected all the charges at their initial appearance before the tribunal.