YouSaid · the spoken record

Brammertz

lines on the record: 454
first: 2006-03-16
most recent: 2023-12-12
sittings or episodes: 36
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“As one notable example, the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been building on past results in the Category II cases by continuing to file significant indictments against senior- and mid-level suspects, as well as for historically under-addressed crimes such as conflict-related sexual violence. However, during the reporting period regional judicial cooperation experienced a significant setback with the failure of Serbian authorities to enforce the war crimes conviction in the Djukic' case for more than a year. Serbia adopted its National Strategy for the Prosecution of War Crimes and Chapter 23 Action Plan, which my Office has welcomed on several occasions, but so far there has been little evidence that these commitments are being implemented.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“My Office underscores, in that regard, that the search for fugitives is not limited to the eight remaining ICTR indictees. Rwandan authorities have identified more than 500 suspects who are present in other countries. These case files must be processed and prosecutions must be brought where there is sufficient evidence of guilt. My Office encourages third-party States to work with Rwandan authorities and ensure that those cases are completed. In relation to the former Yugoslavia, the situation is unfortunately more mixed. While judicial accountability for war crimes continues, political trends are moving in a negative direction. My Office recognizes that results are being achieved in national prosecutions of war crimes.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“All victims share the same hope of seeing those responsible for the crimes against them brought to justice, so it remains of critical importance that these eight fugitives be arrested and stand trial. During the reporting period, we completed our overall review of tracking efforts to date, and major steps are now being undertaken to resolve the challenges identified. My Office hopes to be able to report positive results in the future from our renewed efforts. Our final priority is assisting national judiciaries prosecuting war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. In relation to Rwanda, my Office continued its close cooperation with the National Public Prosecution Authority and the Prosecutor-General. This cooperation remains smooth and effective, and there are no issues to report.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“My Office hopes that positive development will support continued cooperation by third-party States with Rwanda in extradition and related proceedings. Cooperation by the countries of the former Yugoslavia with the ICTY and Mechanism Offices of the Prosecutor remains critical to the completion of our mandate, including in particular our trials and appeals. My Office echoes President Agius' grave concern that Serbia continues to ignore and breach its legal obligation to cooperate with the ICTY. We join the President in again urging Serbia to return to the path of full cooperation. Our second priority is locating and arresting the remaining eight ICTR fugitives.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“We are now intensively working on our response to the 50 grounds of appeal raised by the Karadzic' defence team. Regarding the Arusha branch, no trials or appeals are currently ongoing. However, during the reporting period, my Office conducted two investigations, one in relation to a contempt case and the second in relation to a completed case. Furthermore, my Office is monitoring five ICTR cases that have been referred for trial to the national courts of Rwanda and France. In a notable development during the reporting period, the Mechanism Appeals Chamber issued its decision in the Uwinkindi case, rejecting the accused's application to revoke the referral of his case to Rwanda and reaffirming that conditions exist for fair trial in Rwanda.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“In the Prlie case, my Office is continuing preparations for the appeal hearing, which is expected to take place next spring. During the reporting period, the case against Goran Hadiie was terminated, following his death in Serbia. My Office deeply regrets that the case was not brought to an end with a verdict on the charges. We share the dismay and disappointment of the victims. It would be beneficial to identify and reflect on lessons learned from that case. With respect to Mechanism trials and appeals in The Hague, pretrial proceedings remain under way in the Stanisie and Simatovic' case, with the retrial expected to commence sometime in the first quarter of 2017. In the Seselj' and Karadeic' appeals, we filed our appeal briefs on 18 July and 5 December 2016, respectively.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“This week, my Office is making its closing arguments in the trial of Ratko Mladie, one of the most complex and important cases in the Tribunal's history. Mladie was one of the Tribunal's last fugitives, and his arrest in 2011 was a significant moment for the victims and for international criminal justice. Over the course of his trial, my Office submitted evidence from more than 150 witnesses and more than 7,800 exhibits to prove Mladie's guilt on all 11 charges in the indictment, including genocide in Srebrenica and in the municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The delivery of the judgment in the Mladic' case is expected in November 2017. In relation to ICTY appeals, the judgment in Stanisie and Zupljanin was issued on 30 June 2016, confirming the sentences of 22 years of imprisonment imposed by the ICTY Trial Chamber.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“Mr. Brammertz: In accordance with my dual role, I will report today about both International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals activities in Arusha and The Hague. My Offices are firmly focused on three priorities: expeditiously completing trials and appeals; locating and arresting the remaining eight fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR); and providing assistance to national jurisdictions prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. I first turn to trials and appeals. In The Hague, the ICTY is in the final phase of its mandate. Only two cases remain, and it continues to be expected that the Tribunal will complete its work before the end of next year.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“Finally, to support national justice efforts, it is important that we disseminate our experiences and lessons learned in the prosecution of these crimes. In that regard, my Office hopes that our publication on prosecuting conflict-related sexual violence, which was launched yesterday, is a helpful tool.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“To safeguard future generations, it is essential that there be education about the dangers of genocide ideology and discrimination. My Office urges all States to actively promote the truth and to stand against revisionism in all its forms. In conclusion, the transition of responsibilities from the ICTY to the Mechanism continues, as foreseen in Security Council resolutions. My Office will also continue, within existing resources, to monitor and support national courts prosecuting war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. In accordance with the completion strategies, greater accountability now depends on the ability of national criminal courts to continue the work of the ICTY and ICTR.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“The Mechanism's Office of the Prosecutor is also firmly focused on locating and securing the arrests of the remaining eight fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), including the arrest warrants against Kabuga, Mpiranya and Bizimana. Beginning in March, we reviewed our tracking efforts and strategy, as part of which we redeployed resources from within existing capacity to provide further support. We also identified new avenues to pursue. My Office notes that State cooperation and the Council's support remain essential to locating and arresting fugitives. The truth of what happened during the Rwandan genocide has been repeatedly established in the ICTR's judgments. Yet, today, genocide denial continues.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“In one case referred to Rwanda, the trial judgement was delivered in December 2015, convicting the accused and sentencing him to life imprisonment. My Office commends the Rwandan National Public Prosecution Authority for its work on this case. We now look forward to the expeditious completion of the appeal, as well as the trials in the two other referred cases. With respect to the two cases referred to France, I received updates on the status of those cases during my mission to Paris a few weeks ago. My Office will continue to liaise with French authorities and encourage the expeditious completion of those cases.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“Consistent with the Security Council's directions, the Mechanism's Office of the Prosecutor has utilized double-batting and roster arrangements in order to ensure that the transition of responsibilities from the ICTY is smooth and cost-efficient. While respecting the different mandates of the two institutions, the one-office approach that has been put in place now allows staffto be flexibly deployed across both institutions, without the need to conduct time-consuming recruitment exercises. These measures have permitted the Mechanism's Office of the Prosecutor to carry out its ad hoc activities while remaining a small, temporary and efficient structure. With regard to activities in Arusha, my Office has continued to monitor the cases referred and transferred to the national courts of France and Rwanda.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“What would have been difficult to imagine just a few years ago is sadly commonplace today. As a result, the positive trend in regional cooperation in war crimes justice appears to be reversing. Turning to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, this reporting period marked the beginning oftrial and appeal activities in The Hague. As discussed in more detail in my written report (S/2016/453, annex II), appeal proceedings have commenced in two Mechanism cases, Karadeic' and Seselj, and pretrial proceedings have commenced in the Stanisie and Simatovie case.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“For some Category II cases, Bosnian prosecutors have sought cooperation from Croatia. A number of delays and miscommunications have, however, prevented meaningful progress so far. My Office calls upon the Croatian Government to review its policy in relation to regional cooperation and to facilitate the processing of war crimes cases in the region. We will continue to liaise with our counterparts and to monitor developments. As my Office has reported, in recent years there have been many positive developments in national war crimes justice and regional cooperation. Unfortunately, the political situation throughout the region is moving in the opposite direction. Too many politicians and public figures are denying well-established truths, inflaming ethnic tensions and repeating nationalistic slogans of the past.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“While my Office welcomed before the Council the adoption of National Strategy for the Prosecution of War Crimes for the Period 2016-2020, the overall situation raises legitimate doubts that Serbia has a real commitment to the goal of impartial accountability for war crimes. The continued glorification of convicted war criminals in that country compounds those doubts. It is now up to Serbia to demonstrate that it will honour its pledges to cooperate with the Tribunal, support accountability for war crimes and promote effective regional cooperation. In regard to the Category 11 cases transferred by my Office to national prosecutors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, prosecutorial decisions have been taken in all but one case. Indictments have been confirmed and trial proceedings are now under way.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“It should be noted that in the past, Serbia executed arrest warrants in similar contempt cases without problem or significant delay. Unfortunately, that is unfortunately not the only reason for concern. It is troubling that Serbia has not yet appointed a new Chief War Crimes Prosecutor, despite having had at least a year to do so. It is difficult to understand why that crucial position remains vacant. And Serbia has not yet executed the sentence imposed by the Bosnian State Court in the Djakic' case, which is widely recognized as an important test of Serbia's commitment to regional cooperation.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“It is anticipated that the final defence witness will be heard this month, and that closing arguments by both parties will be presented this fall. In the Hadeie trial, three weeks ago my Office filed a motion for termination of the proceedings. At this time, we see no alternative but to take that step. In this final phase of the Tribunal's work, State cooperation remains essential to enabling the completion of our mandate. That includes my Office's access to documents, archives and witnesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. My Office regrets that Serbia has turned away from the path of full cooperation with the Tribunal. As the President reported this morning, for a year and a half Serbia has failed to execute the Tribunal's arrest warrants and transfer three indictees to the Tribunal's custody.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“Also in March this year, the ICTY Trial Chamber by majority acquitted Vojislav Seselj of the charges against him. The Mechanism has appealed the acquittal. Further proceedings in all three of those cases will be conducted by the Mechanism, in accordance with resolution 1966 (2010) and the transitional arrangements. My Office looks forward to the delivery of the appeal judgment in the Stanisie and Zupljanin case at the end of this month. In relation to the Prlie appeal, we are continuing our preparations for the appeal hearing, which is anticipated next spring. We also continued our work in our two final trials, those of Ratko Mladie and Goran Hadzic'. In the Mladie trial, the defence is in the final phase of presenting its evidence.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“Mr. Brammertz: I thank Council members for the opportunity to again address them on the work of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. I will first address the work of the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICTY. In this reporting period, judgements were issued in three cases, bringing the ICTY closer to completing its mandate at the end of next year. Last December, the ICTY Appeals Chamber granted my Office's appeal in the Stanisvic' and Simatovie case, revoked the Trial Chamber's judgement and ordered a retrial. In March this year, the ICTY Trial Chamber unanimously convicted Radovan Karadzie of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. He was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“For that reason, their successful completion will be an unmistakable demonstration of the commitment shown by the Council, the United Nations and its Member States to international peace, security and justice.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“Yet the completion strategy is not simply a matter of winding down operations and transitioning our responsibilities to national courts. At the Tribunal, our final cases are among the most important we have undertaken. It is anticipated that, in a few months, the trial judgement will be delivered in the case against Radovan Karadzie, former President of the Republika Srpska. The significance of this moment should not be overlooked. While in accordance with the mandate given by the Security Council, my Office brought many prosecutions against military and civilian leaders from all parties to the conflicts, the Karadzie and Mlaa'z'c' trials perhaps best exemplify why the Tribunal was created, as well as the many challenges we have had to overcome.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“We have taken an honest look at the challenges we faced, the strategies we adopted, the results we achieved and the things we could have done much better. We have crafted the publication to be a practical resource for other prosecutors grappling with similar challenges. In conclusion, the foremost objective of my Office is completing our remaining cases, in accordance with the completion strategy. We will continue downsizing staff and significantly reducing expenditures. We will also continue to support and build capacity in national criminal justice sectors prosecuting war crimes in the Western Balkans. I firmly believe that as a result of the Council's leadership, the former Yugoslavia is today one of the most successful examples of complementarity in international criminal justice.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“My Office therefore calls upon all States of the region to undertake prominent public-awareness campaigns encouraging witnesses, including perpetrators of the crimes and their associates, to come forward with information about missing persons. As the end of our mandate approaches, my Office has a limited window of opportunity to distil our key operational insights and make them available to others in the future. We believe this is critical in order to maximize the value of investments in our work and strengthen future prosecutions by other courts. As a first contribution, my Office has now completed a detailed assessment of our work on prosecuting conflict-related sexual violence crimes, which will be published in April next year.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“Enormous progress has been made, thanks to the work of organizations like the International Commission on Missing Persons, but far too many families still do not know the fate of their loved ones. During my mission to Sarajevo a few weeks ago, I met with national authorities responsible for missing persons and their international partners. They were unanimous in their opinion that if further meaningful progress is to be achieved, those who know where mass graves and other burial sites are located must be encouraged to come forward. Yet today in many parts of society, war criminals are still glorified, and people providing information about missing persons risk being branded traitors and exposed to possible retribution.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“Victims from every group are dissatisfied that investigations of many notorious incidents remain unresolved after so many years. While those who directly committed crimes are being brought to trial, impunity remains the rule for senior and mid-level leaders who planned, ordered and facilitated the crimes. Regional cooperation continues to face many challenges, and in some respects has even regressed. These challenges can be addressed with political will and appropriate technical assistance. Within existing resources, my Office will continue to support national judiciaries in achieving fuller accountability, as we have since the completion strategy was adopted. Missing persons from all sides of the conflict must be found and identified.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“In this regard, the fact that last week senior Government ministers escorted and welcomed a convicted war criminal, General Vladimir Lazarevie, back to Serbia upon his release sends absolutely the wrong signal. In Croatia, there was an important development in regional cooperation with the transfer of one Category II case from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatian authorities. In addition, Croatian authorities last week began exhumations of a mass grave believed to contain the remains of Croatian Serbs killed during Operation Storm. The Croatian judiciary now has the important opportunity to visibly demonstrate that the accountability process continues in an independent and impartial manner. While recognizing the progress that has been made, it is clear that throughout the former Yugoslavia, more accountability can and should be achieved.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“My Office encourages the Prosecutor's Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina to dedicate its efforts to prosecuting the most complex and highest-priority cases, in accordance with the National War Crimes Strategy. In addition, cooperation between prosecutors' offices at the state, entity, district and cantonal levels remains problematic, and there is general consensus that the justice sector is not yet meeting the public's expectations. In Serbia, important results continue to be achieved, including in regional cooperation and the exhumation of mass graves. My report (S/2015/874, annex II) emphasizes that the accountability process in Serbia is at a critical crossroads. Further progress in Serbia will require strong political commitment.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“While a few cases may not be finalized until early next year, it is clear that over the last six months the Prosecutor's Office redoubled its efforts and redeployed significant resources to the cases transferred by my Office a few years ago. Throughout the region, however, there continue to be a number of concerns. Progress in national war crimes cases is uneven and still fragile. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Prosecutor's Office has reported that it filed a significant number of indictments in the past few years. That is the positive news. My Office welcomes these results, but also notes that the targets established in the National War Crimes Strategy will not be met by a significant margin.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“I therefore trust that, with regard to the contempt case made public last week, Serbia will continue its recent record of full cooperation and appropriately execute the Tribunal's arrest warrants. With regard to the category II cases that my Office transferred to national prosecutors, my previous reports noted our significant concerns about delays by the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina in processing those cases. During my mission to Sarajevo in May, the Chief Prosecutor gave me his assurances that prosecutorial decisions would be taken by the end of the year in all remaining category 11 cases. I am pleased to report that, in large measure, that pledge has been honoured.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“We have continued to downsize, abolishing 50 per cent of our posts since January 2014. By improving the efficiency of our operations and flexibly managing our staff resources, we have ensured that attrition does not delay the completion of our work. In the final phase of our mandate, we will increasingly look to the Office of the Prosector of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals for support through double-hatting and other cost-efficient arrangements, just as we supported the Mechanism in its start-up phase. The countries of the former Yugoslavia continue to cooperate with my Office and to respond as required to our requests for assistance. Even at this late stage in the Tribunal's mandate, State cooperation remains essential to enable the completion of our work on schedule.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“In relation to appeals, during the reporting period my Office presented its oral arguments in the Stanisie and Simatovic case, and we note the scheduled delivery of the appeal judgement in that case next week. Next week we will also present our oral arguments in the Stanisie and Zupljanin case. And finally, the Prlic et al. appeal is now fully briefed and we await the scheduling of the oral arguments. Attrition remains a persistent challenge. During the reporting period, many of our Appeals Division staff were recruited by the Office of the Prosector of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. Also, we have seen significant attrition over the past few months in the Mladic' trial team. Nonetheless, my Office is overcoming those and other challenges.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“Mr. Brammertz: I thank Council members for the opportunity to again address them on the Office of the Prosecutor's progress in completing its mandate. In this reporting period, we continued to make every effort to complete our work on the Tribunal's final trials and appeals. As the President already mentioned, four final trials and three appeals are ongoing. My Office is awaiting the issuance of trial judgements in two trials, those ofKaradzic and Seselj. On the Mladie case, we remain very focused on responding to the evidence presented by the defence and, in the Hadzie case, my Office is exploring all reasonable options to make possible the completion of that trial.”
2015-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7574 (2015) · source
“We will continue downsizing staff in line with the completion of trials and appeals, while also documenting and sharing our experiences. Next month will mark the twentieth anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. It will be an opportunity to remember all victims of the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and to recognize that survivors are making extraordinary efforts to build a more peaceful future. It is also an opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its commitment to ensuring justice for past crimes and preventing their repetition.”
2015-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7455 (2015) · source
“Authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina should give serious consideration to the recommendations recently issued by the International Commission on Missing Persons. It is critical that the law on missing persons be fully implemented and that national authorities take full responsibility for that vital work. For our part, my Office is participating in an intensive effort with key partners to strengthen the search for missing persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina by re-examining available evidence and information. If that work proves successful, we will consider how to expand it to other States in the region. In conclusion, the foremost objective ofmy Office is to expeditiously complete our work in accordance with the completion strategy.”
2015-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7455 (2015) · source
“While similar commitments were made previously, we trust that they will be honoured this time. We continue to believe that those and other challenges can be successfully addressed if there is national ownership of post-conflict justice, appropriately supported by international assistance. My Office will continue to engage directly with national authorities and encourage full responsibility for the accountability process, while assisting them to improve their methods and implement lessons learned from our experiences. In our meetings, victims from every group are unanimous in their desire that the search for missing persons continues to be a key priority. While there have been significant results already, there are still too many families that do not know the fate of their loved ones. More can and needs to be done in that regard.”
2015-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7455 (2015) · source
“My Office continues to discuss outstanding challenges with the Prosecutor's Office, including the practice of breaking up comprehensive cases into separate trials. But my report also highlights the successful results by the Prosecutor's Office regarding crimes related to the Srebrenica genocide. We encourage the Prosecutor's Office to ensure that the strategic approach and effective practices of its Srebrenica team are applied in other investigations and prosecutions. This brings me to the category II cases transferred by my Office in the period from 2008 to 2010. During my recent mission to Sarajevo, the Chief Prosecutor could report only limited progress in those cases. However, he gave strong assurances that prosecutorial decisions will be taken in all remaining cases by the end of the year.”
2015-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7455 (2015) · source
“We call upon national authorities to continue to tangibly demonstrate their commitment to cooperation and increased comprehensive accountability for war crimes. Mrs. Adnin took the Chair. At the same time, it is important to recognize that only a very limited number of the outstanding cases at the national level have been prosecuted to date. More should also be done on the most complex and highest- priority cases, particularly those involving senior- and mid-level officials. It has become clear that further progress in effective national justice requires a more strategic approach in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes. In my previous reports I noted the need for improved management and leadership in the Office of the Prosecutor of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2015-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7455 (2015) · source
“The Appeals Division is now fully focused on preparing for the presentation oforal arguments in the final three appeals. The countries of the former Yugoslavia continue to cooperate with my Office and respond, as required, to our requests for assistance. State cooperation in all aspects of our work remains mandatory and will continue to be closely monitored. My Office recognizes the significant results achieved during the reporting period in regional cooperation on several high-profile cases. That regional cooperation includes joint arrest operations conducted by the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. Those developments are positive signs that national authorities are responding to the concerns we have previously expressed.”
2015-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7455 (2015) · source
“In the Seselj and Karadzie cases, we continue to await the trial judgements, which are estimated to be delivered later this year. During the reporting period, appeal judgements were delivered in the Popovic et al. and Tolimir cases, largely confirming the genocide and other convictions we secured at trial. Therefore only three appeal proceedings now remain. The oral hearings in Stanisie and Simatovic' and Stanisie and Zupljam'n are anticipated to be held later this year. In the Prlic' et al. appeal we successfully completed, on schedule, our written arguments. It involved, among other tasks, reviewing, researching and responding to 168 defence grounds of appeal spanning nearly 1,000 pages. Our team completed that immense task in less than four months by working around the clock.”
2015-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7455 (2015) · source
“Mr. Brammertz: I thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to address the Council on the progress of the Office of the Prosecutor towards the completion of our mandate. In this reporting period, we moved closer to finalizing our work in the Tribunal's last trials and appeals. As the Council has already heard, at the end of the reporting period, four trials are ongoing. In the Mladie case, the defence continued to present its evidence. But as previously indicated, my Office will, later this month, briefly reopen the Prosecution case to present our recently-discovered evidence on the Tomasica mass grave. We will use nine courtroom hours to present our evidence. In the Hadzie case, the trial was adjourned in October 2014 due to the accused's ill health and has not yet resumed.”
2015-06-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7455 (2015) · source
“There have been many important achievements in ensuring accountability for crimes committed during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. As members know, we are currently prosecuting some of the most important cases in the Tribunal's history. In just a few years, the Tribunal will complete all its outstanding work and close its doors. Only then can its legacy be fully assessed. In conclusion, finalizing our work in accordance with the completion strategy continues to be the primary objective of my Office. We remain fully focused on completing our remaining work as efficiently as possible, and we will continue to implement our downsizing in line with the completion of trials and appeals, while supporting our staff as they transition to new careers.”
2014-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7332 (2014) · source
“Efforts to search for missing persons must be maintained and intensified. At this time last year, I reported that the relationship of trust between the Tribunal and the public was under strain. Unfortunately, among victims and the Tribunal's supporters many do not believe that the situation has improved. They point to cases that have been delayed time and again. Many express their view that not enough information is provided to explain what they see as controversial decisions. Critical reflection is still needed at the Tribunal. And, as in national courts around the world, at international tribunals there should be no tension between judicial independence and efficient case management. The Tribunal's legacy, however, should not be measured by the past few years alone.”
2014-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7332 (2014) · source
“We will continue to support accountability efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other States in the former Yugoslavia through the transfer of information and evidence to national prosecutors, as the Security Council has directed. Our liaison prosecutors project remains an important component of our support and serves as a precedent for cooperation between international and national prosecutors. During my missions to the region the many victims I met with reminded us that prosecutions are not the only issue that deserves attention. Reparations for victims of the conflict have not yet been fully and fairly addressed. While the discovery of the mass grave in Tomasica last year was an important success in the search for missing persons, many families throughout the region still do not know the fate of their loved ones.”
2014-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7332 (2014) · source
“Cases continue to be broken up into individual indictments, and some of the previous undertakings to correct these issues remain unfulfilled. More generally, the Steering Board of the National War Crimes Strategy and the State-level judiciary reported their concerns that the work of the Prosecutor's Office is not moving in a positive direction. They fear that quality is being sacrificed to increase the quantity of indictments. They also believe that far more indictments should charge crimes against humanity. Nonetheless, while the list of challenges is long, good management and leadership in the Prosecutor's Office can put matters back on the right track to build upon past achievements.”
2014-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7332 (2014) · source
“Fugitives continue to avoid accountability by finding safe haven across borders. While cases continue against low-level perpetrators, there needs to be a greater focus on cases against senior- and mid-level suspects. We recognize, however, that in recent days prosecutors in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina successfully carried out a joint cross-border arrest operation in preparation for prosecutions in both States. That is a very positive development that demonstrates how much more can be achieved through effective cooperation. We urge prosecutorial authorities in the region to build on that important success. During the reporting period, I undertook two missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina to discuss national war crimes prosecutions with the Chief Prosecutor and other officials. Five so-called category 11 cases remain unresolved.”
2014-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7332 (2014) · source
“That motion is currently pending. The intensity of the reactions to Seselj's release and his revival of rhetoric from two decades ago remind us that reconciliation remains fragile. It should encourage us to redouble our efforts to ensure accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian law and to firmly stand against all forms of revisionism. Day-to-day cooperation between the Tribunal and the countries of the former Yugoslavia continues to meet our expectations. We thank national authorities for their cooperation and fully expect it to continue in the next reporting period. In relation to national war crimes prosecutions, however, my written report (S/2014/827, annex I) notes that further improvements are needed. Regional cooperation agreements have been signed, but have not yet been widely put into practice.”
2014-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7332 (2014) · source
“Unfortunately, time saved in the Prosecution case has since been lost, as the proceedings are now further delayed by newly-arisen concerns regarding Hadzie's health. The issuance of the trial judgement in the Seselj case has been delayed again, as the replacement judge has indicated he will require an additional year to prepare for deliberations. The Office of the Prosecutor understands and shares the frustration of many that the trial judgement has not yet been issued. knowing that the last witness testified in July 2010 and the trial closed in March 2012. The Trial Chamber took the initiative to provisionally release Seselj under limited conditions. His disregard of the Tribunal's orders and insults to victim communities made it necessary for my Office to ask the Trial Chamber to revoke his provisional release.”
2014-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7332 (2014) · source
“Without their courage, that trial, like all others, would not have been possible. There are now only two remaining courtroom trials, Mladic' and HadZic'. In both, the defence is currently presenting its evidence. Appeals proceedings are ongoing in five cases. During the reporting period, the multi-accused Prh'c' et al. case was a major focus for the Appeals Division of my Office. Convicted at trial, the six accused have submitted 168 grounds of appeal, for which the Appeals Division in the Office of the Prosecutor is preparing responses, in addition to preparing the Prosecution's four grounds of appeal. However, as events during the reporting period have demonstrated, the ultimate conclusion of trials and appeals is beyond our control. In Hadiic', the Prosecution closed its case in October 2013.”
2014-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7332 (2014) · source
“Mr. Brammertz: I thank Council members for this opportunity to address them on the Office of the Prosecutor's progress towards the completion of our mandate. In this reporting period, we completed our work in the trial of Radovan Karadzie, having submitted our final trial brief and presented our closing oral arguments. Over the course of the trial, more than 550 witnesses testified and over 10,000 exhibits were submitted, totaling 165,000 pages of transcripts and documentary evidence. It is an immense record of the crimes and of those responsible for them. The judgement, as has been mentioned, is expected next fall. The Office of the Prosecutor remains grateful to all victims and witnesses who participated in the trial and contributed to ensuring justice and accountability for those horrific crimes.”
2014-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7332 (2014) · source