ZAGREB, May 8 (Hina) - Changes occurring in Croatia are important for the development of human rights and democracy in Europe, president of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Claude Jorda, said in
Zagreb Tuesday following a meeting with Croatian President Stipe Mesic. Jorda and Mesic discussed cooperation between Croatian authorities and the Hague-based Tribunal. Jorda recalled it was the ICTY's duty to convict those responsible for crimes, with assistance by certain help being of crucial significance. As your President is turning towards the future, I believe we should be provided with assistance, even if it can be painful sometimes, Jorda said. Asked what the Tribunal expected of Croatian authorities, Jorda said it expected to receive all evidence to be used by both the defence and prosecution, in order for it to perform its work thoroughly, transparently and justly.
ZAGREB, May 8 (Hina) - Changes occurring in Croatia are important
for the development of human rights and democracy in Europe,
president of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY), Claude Jorda, said in Zagreb Tuesday following a
meeting with Croatian President Stipe Mesic.
Jorda and Mesic discussed cooperation between Croatian authorities
and the Hague-based Tribunal.
Jorda recalled it was the ICTY's duty to convict those responsible
for crimes, with assistance by certain help being of crucial
significance.
As your President is turning towards the future, I believe we should
be provided with assistance, even if it can be painful sometimes,
Jorda said.
Asked what the Tribunal expected of Croatian authorities, Jorda
said it expected to receive all evidence to be used by both the
defence and prosecution, in order for it to perform its work
thoroughly, transparently and justly.
Croatian President's advisor for foreign policy, Stanko Nick, said
Mesic stressed at the meeting the "Hague Tribunal is Croatia's
great ally because it is helping in the individualisation of the
guilt of Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks, thus removing responsibility
and liability from peoples".
"Only in such a way can normal relations and good neighbourly
cooperation be established with countries in the region," Nick
said.
As regards the suggestion that Croatian judicial bodies carry out
investigative proceedings, Jorda said this belonged in the
jurisdiction of the prosecutor.
The Tribunal is not in principle against the suggestion that some
indictees be tried in national courts, which has been envisaged by
the Statute, he said.
He allowed the possibility of parts of proceedings against some
indictees be held in national courts, which would facilitate
testimonies of witnesses.
Jorda held this would achieve better understanding between the ICTY
and the public in the country and show that the indictee and judges
were not hiding anything.
He, however, dismissed this possibility for proceedings pertaining
to senior military officers.
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