ZAGREB, Sept 20 (Hina) - Three judges with the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), who are on a working visit to Croatia, on Wednesday expressed satisfaction with their contacts with Croatian legal experts,
adding they had established communication channels which could result in a good cooperation.
ZAGREB, Sept 20 (Hina) - Three judges with the International
Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), who are on a
working visit to Croatia, on Wednesday expressed satisfaction with
their contacts with Croatian legal experts, adding they had
established communication channels which could result in a good
cooperation. #L#
Judge Almiro Rodrigues of Portugal said the purpose of the visit was
to talk to their colleagues and openly listen to their concerns.
I believe we have achieved a very good communication and that there
are bases for a very good cooperation, he said.
Visiting Croatia along with Rodrigues, within ICTY's Outreach
programme, are judge Patricia Wald of the United States and the
oldest ICTY judge, Fouad Riad of Egypt. The three judges are members
of ICTY's Trial Chamber I, which is to conduct the trials of Mladen
Naletilic and Vinko Martinovic. Riad and Rodrigues were members of
the Trial Chamber in the Blaskic case.
Judge Riad said his visit to Croatia was a valuable experience,
singling out a lecture at the Law School and meetings with judges
and Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic.
The ICTY judges today participated in a seminar on war crimes
trials, which the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Croatian Justice Ministry and the Coalition for
International Justice organised for judges, lawyers and
prosecutors at Zagreb's 'Intercontinental' hotel.
Judge Wald described as "encouraging" the high attendance and
interest in the seminar demonstrated by representatives of
Croatia's judiciary.
The ICTY judges said the purpose of their visit was not to evaluate
or teach their colleague from Croatia, especially regarding the
possibility of processing war crimes by the domestic judiciary, but
to talk to them and exchange experience.
Reporters were also interested in the issue of political
implications of ICTY judgements, lengthy trials, compensation for
victims, re-trials etc.
Speaking about the political implications of their decisions, the
judges said they were judging according to international law and
their conscience only. Lengthy trials are the result of the
complexity of cases, long investigations, the non-existence of
means of coercion in international law, and insufficient funds.
Commenting on compensation for victims, they said they supported
the establishment of a U.N. commission for compensation and
cooperation with national courts.
Asked about the establishment of new facts in the Blaskic case, the
ICTY judges said the tribunal had mechanisms to reconsider and
renew trials if it proved necessary.
(hina) rml