ZAGREB/THE HAGUE, May 4 (Hina) - Hague war crimes tribunal president Theodor Meron has reported Serbia and Montenegro's non-cooperation to the UN Security Council, the tribunal said in a statement on Tuesday.
ZAGREB/THE HAGUE, May 4 (Hina) - Hague war crimes tribunal president
Theodor Meron has reported Serbia and Montenegro's non-cooperation to
the UN Security Council, the tribunal said in a statement on Tuesday.#L#
In a letter to the Security Council president, Meron complained of "a
constant failure on the part of Serbia and Montenegro to comply with
its obligations under Article 29 of the Statute and Rule 39 of the
Rules of Procedure and Evidence".
"Serbia and Montenegro's present cooperation (is) nearly non-existent
and (...) the level of cooperation has declined following the December
2003 elections," Meron wrote on the basis of a report prepared by the
Office of the Prosecutor.
"The Prosecutor identifies failures on the part of Serbia and
Montenegro to execute arrest warrants issued by the Tribunal and to
respond to requests made by the Registrar pursuant to Rule 59 of the
Tribunal's Rules to explain those failures," the letter said.
"The Prosecutor also identifies failures on the part of Serbia and
Montenegro to cooperate with the Prosecutor in her attempts to secure
witnesses' testimonies and documentary evidence," Meron wrote, adding
that "such failures are detrimental to the expectations placed upon
the Tribunal by its completion strategy and could seriously impinge
upon the Tribunal's ability to meet those expectations".
In conclusion of his letter, Meron asked the Security Council
president to bring the prosecutor's report to the attention of
Security Council members.
The tribunal has reported Serbia and Montenegro's non-cooperation
several times, but to no effect.
(Hina) vm