FINAL PROPOSAL FOR WAR CRIMES TRIALS IN BOSNIA IN FEBRUARY

SARAJEVO, Jan 15 (Hina) - Legal experts from the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Wednesday agreed on the principles on which war crimes committed in Bosnia should be prosecuted. #L# After a three-day working conference in Sarajevo, which was also attended by ICTY president Claude Jorda and Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, a joint statement was released today saying it was decided the most suitable institution for processing war crimes in Bosnia was a special council within the Court of Bosnia- Herzegovina. The council would also employ foreign citizens part time. The council would have jurisdiction over cases which would be forwarded by the ICTY as well as over the most sensitive war crimes cases which should be dealt with by the local judiciary. The conclusions on the way war crimes cases should be prosecuted in Bosnia will be presented to the Steering Committee of the Peace Implementation Council for Bosnia later this month. All motions are expected to be finalised at a special meeting of experts to take place at The Hague in February so that the entire project can be presented to the U.N security Council as soon as possible. (hina) it sb