THE HAGUE, June 7 (Hina) - Croatia and the Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague need to resolve only some 'technical details', ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte told reporters on Wednesday after a
meeting with Croatian Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic. Answering a reporter's question, del Ponte confirmed those details were of technical and not political nature. The Croatian justice minister today visited the ICTY, where he discussed cooperation between Croatia and the Tribunal with ICTY President, Judge Claude Jorda, Registrar Dorothee De Sampayo and Prosecutor Carla del Ponte. Addressing a brief press conference, del Ponte said a certain number of questions had been mentioned during today's talks and the two sides had identified areas where cooperation could be improved. This concerns, in great part, the procedure of forwarding documents the Prosecutor's office is interested i
THE HAGUE, June 7 (Hina) - Croatia and the Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague need to resolve only some
'technical details', ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte told
reporters on Wednesday after a meeting with Croatian Justice
Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic.
Answering a reporter's question, del Ponte confirmed those details
were of technical and not political nature.
The Croatian justice minister today visited the ICTY, where he
discussed cooperation between Croatia and the Tribunal with ICTY
President, Judge Claude Jorda, Registrar Dorothee De Sampayo and
Prosecutor Carla del Ponte.
Addressing a brief press conference, del Ponte said a certain
number of questions had been mentioned during today's talks and the
two sides had identified areas where cooperation could be
improved.
This concerns, in great part, the procedure of forwarding documents
the Prosecutor's office is interested in.
"Croatia has so far given the Tribunal about 3,500 documents and we
will continue forwarding them," Ivanisevic told reporters.
Deputy Prosecutor Graham Blewitt told a regular press conference
today Croatia had still not solved the problem of access to
documents by the Prosecutor in a satisfactory manner.
Del Ponte estimated that Ivanisevic's visit was important because
it proved Croatia's wish to improve cooperation with the ICTY.
Ivanisevic, who is visiting the Tribunal for the first time,
expressed hope that the latest talks would result in the withdrawal
of a report against Croatia to the U.N. Security Council, which the
ICTY submitted last year at the request of the Prosecution due to
lack of cooperation on Croatia's part.
During talks with ICTY President Jorda, Ivanisevic expressed
concern over the report to the Security Council regarding Croatia's
failure to fulfil its obligations toward the ICTY. Jorda reiterated
that as soon as he was given the confirmation that all existing
questions had been resolved, he would inform the Security Council
of it, the ICTY said in a statement after the talks.
Ivanisevic also inquired about the possibility for some persons who
are found guilty by the ICTY to serve their sentences in countries
bordering with Croatia as well as for the pre-trial proceedings to
be held in Croatia.
According to the ICTY statement, President Jorda has taken note of
these questions and indicated that he intends to continue dealing
with them in the future.
Ivanisevic's visit to The Hague takes place after a visit by Jorda
to Croatia on May 9/10. During the visit, Jorda met, among others,
Croatian President Stipe Mesic.
The ICTY supports the improved cooperation with Croatia and
considers such visits an additional proof of Croatia's
determination to constructively cooperate with the ICTY, the
statement read.
Ivanisevic on Wednesday also visited the Schevenningen detention
unit.
(hina) jn rml