DOKMANOVIC'S INITIAL APPEARANCE HEARING SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY

ZAGREB, July 1 (Hina) - A former mayor of Vukovar, Slavko Dokmanovic, who is accused of war crimes against Vukovar hospital patients, will appear before The Hague Tribunal (ICTY) for the first time on Friday, 4 July 1997, according to a statement released on Wednesday by the ICTY press and information office. During this hearing, the accused Dokmanovic will be asked to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty on each count of the indictment. The indictment will have been unsealed in the meantime. The initial appearance hearing will take place before Trial Chamber II composed of Judge Gabrielle McDonald (presiding), Judge Elizabeth Odio Benito and Judge Saad Saood Jan. The Prosecution will be led by Mr Grant Niemann, Senior Trial Attorney. The Accused will be represented by Mr Toma Fila, attorney from Belgrade, the statement of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia said at the end. (hina) jn mš 021324 MET jul 97