THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, April 8 (Hina) - A spokeswoman for the Prosecution of the Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal (ICTY) on Tuesday confirmed that Belgrade had notified the Prosecution that it was processing a case relating to an
investigation into war crimes committed at Ovcara, outside Vukovar.
THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, April 8 (Hina) - A spokeswoman for the
Prosecution of the Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal (ICTY) on
Tuesday confirmed that Belgrade had notified the Prosecution that
it was processing a case relating to an investigation into war
crimes committed at Ovcara, outside Vukovar. #L#
Serbian Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic has earlier said that
the ongoing investigation has given indications about "real
perpetrators", who were nabbed and who are expected to be processed
in Serbia.
Hartmann said Serbian authorities had contacted the ICTY
Prosecution to inform it that they were processing the case, and she
added that there was no obligation for the ICTY of formally
approving the take-over of the case.
According to her, the ICTY tries those who masterminded and ordered
crimes, and currently four cases are being dealt with this tribunal
in relation to the Ovcara atrocities, and it is good, she said, that
Serbia is launching other processes against low-profile suspects.
The ICTY Prosecution's spokeswoman said Belgrade was clearly told
it had an obligation to extradite Veselin Sljivancanin and Miroslav
Radic, who together with indictee Mile Mrksic, already detained in
the ICTY's custody, constitute the notorious Vukovar Troika,
accused of slaying 200 patients, previously captured at Vukovar
Hospital, at the Ovcara farm outside the eastern Croatian town.
Serbian Minister Mihajlovic said the new evidence could expedite
efforts aimed at bringing Sljivancanin before the ICTY and, as the
minister said, Sljivancanin could prove that he was innocent, with
the assistance of the Serbian government.
Interpol issued warrants for the arrest of Sljivancanin and Radic
in 1995, and in 1998 the UN adopted a resolution asking for their
apprehension and extradition.
According to Serbian sources, the arrested group, suspected of
killing the captured wounded Croatians at Ovcara, is connected with
paramilitary units which were active in eastern Croatia during the
war.
Hartmann added that some of those had been mentioned by witnesses at
the current trial of Slobodan Milosevic before the ICTY.
So far, 200 bodies have been exhumed at the Ovcara site, while it is
believed that 260 persons were killed in the November 1991
massacre.
(hina) ms sb