SARAJEVO, May 8 (Hina) - An independent international team of experts has decided to suggest the establishment of a special war crimes court in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which would also employ domestic judges.
SARAJEVO, May 8 (Hina) - An independent international team of
experts has decided to suggest the establishment of a special war
crimes court in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which would also employ
domestic judges. #L#
A member of the team, John Ralston, previously head of the
investigations department at the Hague war crimes tribunal, said in
Sarajevo on Wednesday the decision to suggest the establishment of
a state court and prosecution in Bosnia-Herzegovina to deal
exclusively with the violation of international humanitarian law
had been adopted unanimously.
Ralston said that the best solution would be for a special war
crimes department to be established at the Bosnian State Court,
which was established a year and a half ago in line with a decision
by the High Representative.
The operation of this court would have to be followed by the
prosecution on the state level, which currently does not exist in
Bosnia-Herzegovina. A special department for witness protection
would have to be established as well.
Some new laws will have to be adopted and some existing ones
changed, Ralston said, adding that foreign nationals would have to
participate at least in the initial stage of all investigations.
Ralston estimates that foreign experts will participate in war
crimes cases for the first five years. After that period, war crimes
trials could be completely transferred to domestic investigators
and judges, he said.
The international community would provide a large part of the
funding to finance the court's work.
(hina) rml sb