ICTY REFUSES TO GRANT RELEASE REQUEST BY DOKMANOVIC

( Vidi vijest: 6139 ) THE HAGUE, Oct 27 (Hina) - The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Wednesday refused to grant a request for the release of Slavko Dokmanovic, the ICTY said in a statement on Monday. Dokmanovic is charged with crimes against civilians in Vukovar. His defense explained its request for Dokmanovic's release with the claim that his arrest had been illegal, contrary to the Statute and Rules of the ICTY, and that it violated the sovereignty of Yugoslavia and international law. In refusing to grant the request, the ICTY concluded that the accused was "arrested in the region of Croatia administered by UNTAES, by the forces of UNTAES, and with the participation of the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP)." The UNTAES legitimately executed the warrant of arrest, which had been directed by the Tribunal, and the OTP informed the accused of his rights. In his request for release, Dokmanovic stated that representatives of the OTP guaranteed him safe conduct, which the Office denied, but according to a decision of the Trial Chamber, the evidence "suggests that Mr. Dokmanovic was not given an assurance of safe conduct and freedom from arrest by the representatives of the OTP or UNTAES." The Trial Chamber also said that in the arrest of Dokmanovic they had "neither violated principles of international law nor the sovereignty of Yugoslavia", and that the "UNTAES, in discharging its obligation to cooperate with the International Tribunal and enforcing its (UN Charter) Chapter VII mandate, is assuring the effectiveness of the Tribunal and thus contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security, as it is intended to do." (hina) ha jn 271711 MET oct 97