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ICTY Articles
2004
Hague Prosecutors Rest Their Case (December 27, 2004)
As the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) issues its final indictments, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting reflects on some of the controversies and criticisms faced by the ICTY throughout its history, particularly over the tribunal's focus on relatively low profile perpetrators. Despite its shortcomings, the war crimes tribunal's greatest legacy will be the inception of the permanent International Criminal Court.
Bosnian Serbs Chided Over Pay in War Crimes (December 16, 2004)
The Bosnian Serb government will offer money to war crimes suspects who surrender, but prosecutors in the former Yugoslav criminal tribunal say this shows the the government is "negotiating instead of arresting." Though NATO and the US have used financial rewards to gain information, the Bosnian Serb measure marks the first time money will go to suspects themselves. (New York Times)
Bringing War Crimes Justice Back Home (November 26, 2004)
Bosnia and Herzegovina's War Crimes Chamber (WCC) could start taking lower-level prosecutions from the Hague war crimes tribunal on January 1, 2005. Critics believe Bosnia's inadequate detention facilities and witness protection programs, partisan media reporting and a legal system below global standards legitimize a strong international presence in the WCC's preparations. Others question whether Bosnians are ready to come to terms with the past and acknowledge the need for a fair justice system. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
UN Faults Croatia on War Crimes Suspect, Dimming EU Prospects (November 24, 2004)
At a UN Security Council briefing, Hague chief prosecutor Carla Del Ponte again criticized former Yugoslav states for their lack of cooperation in handing over war crimes suspects to the tribunal, and called upon the international community to increase pressure. Given that states must fully cooperate with the tribunal in order to retain the possibility of European Union membership, this International Herald Tribune article doubts EU members will unanimously vote to set a date for Croatia negotiations at their December council meeting.
President of War Crimes Tribunal Says Funding Problems Serious (November 16, 2004)
Nearly $70 million in arrears from UN member state dues have had a "devastating effect" on the work of the former Yugoslav war crimes tribunal. Criticisms from Japan over excessive tribunal spending and lack of cooperation, mainly on the part of Serbia and Montenegro, have hindered the tribunal. Though a Bosnia-Herzegovina court may take on some cases and Croatia is "making progress," the chief judge warns that funding issues could cause the tribunal to miss the 2004 investigations deadline and 2010 final deadline. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Tribunal Stages First Kosovar Trial (November 14, 2004)
Three former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) members, known as heroes to the majority Albanian population in Kosovo, face the Hague as the first Kosovars on trial since the inception of the war crimes tribunal. The charges include crimes against humanity for involvement at a central Kosovo village camp where the KLA allegedly tortured and killed over 30 Serb and Albanian civilians. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Serbs Sorry for Srebrenica Deaths (November 10, 2004)
Bosnian Serb leaders finally apologized for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, in which over 7,000 Muslims lost their lives. Though the UN war crimes tribunal termed the massacre "genocide," the government had previously failed to admit the extensive death toll. Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, the top officials responsible for the massacre, remain in hiding. (BBC)
US Denies Report It Wants to Sideline UN Tribunal (October 26, 2004)
Following a Washington Times article claiming that US officials discredited the capabilities of the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Reuters reports that the US embassy in Belgrade "continues to support the (tribunal's) efforts." Several Serbian papers also published the original article, using it to show both support and disdain for Western influence on Serbian leadership and the ICTY.
Balkan Justice Joust (October 24, 2004)
The Washington Times reports that the Bush administration wants national courts instead of the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to handle all Balkan war crimes cases. The author claims Under Secretary of State for Arms Control John Bolton said the ICTY lacks "democratic accountability" and hinders "the growth of independent judicial bodies and the rule of law within Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia."
Suspect in Srebrenica Massacre Arrested (October 11, 2004)
The Serbian government announced that senior Bosnian-Serb army official Ljubisa Beara surrendered and will face genocide charges at the UN war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia. Conflicting reports say the government arrested Beara, who allegedly participated in the 1995 massacre of 8,000 Muslims in Srebrenica. Analysts hope his capture will lead to further arrests and the surrender of other war criminals such as Beara's superior, General Ratko Mladic. (Independent)
Devolving War Crimes Justice (October 8, 2004)
Carla del Ponte, Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia, remarks on the future of domestic war crimes trials and the relationship of the tribunal with the states of former Yugoslavia. She urges states to cooperate with the tribunal and to establish more domestic cases so that collectively, "we repudiate war crimes and prosecute the perpetrators, or future generations will judge us to have been accomplices by acquiescence." (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
UN War Court Transfers First Case to Serbia (October 1, 2004)
The chief prosecutor of the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal handed over an unnamed case to the Serbian jjustice system, satisfying the Serbian Prime Minister's call for trials in the country. However, the prosecutor also said she wanted the larger cases—such as Radovan Karadzic and General Ratko Mladic, if they turn up—tried at the Hague. (Reuters)
Serbs Step Up Search for Mladic Before Deadline to Cut Off US Aid (September 29, 2004)
Serbian police are intensifying their search for war crimes suspects General Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic in response to US threats to cut off aid money and access to international financial institutions. Though prosecutors in the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal have pressured Serbia to hand over the fugitives from the beginning, the police hesitated because a "large part of Serbian public still views both General Mladic and Mr Karadzic as heroes." (Independent)
Serbian PM Snubs Hague Tribunal (September 17, 2004)
Just weeks after Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica asked war crimes suspects—such as General Ratko Mladic and Goran Hazdic—to voluntarily surrender to the war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia, he claims Serbia has "already fulfilled its obligations" to The Hague and that national courts should try remaining suspects. (BBC)
Milosevic Ally in Missing Archives Probe (September 17, 2004)
Goran Milinovic, a civil servant for former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, is under criminal investigation for hiding or destroying documents requested by prosecutors in the International Criminal Tribunal on Yugoslavia. The missing documents, on Serbian security force activity in Kosovo in 1998, add to the suspicion that the Serbian government is not handing over documents in order to protect former officials. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Hague War Crimes Tribunal Frees a Convicted a General (July 30, 2004)
The appeals court of the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia rejected most of the lower court's earlier indictment against General Tihomir Blaskic and cut his sentence from 45 years to 9. The controversial decision is a strong reprimand of the lower court's work and is likely to affect other cases under appeal. (New York Times)
A Tale of Two Systems (July 23, 2004)
The International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia uniquely combines "two of the world's major legal traditions," common and civil law. This Institute for War and Peace Reporting article analyses the hybrid system's effectiveness and how it is perceived by participants.
UN War Crimes Prosecutor Accuses Belgrade of Enabling Fugitives to Escape (July 19, 2004)
Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia Carla Del Ponte accuses Belgrade authorities of helping former Croatian Serb political leader Goran Hadzic to escape. Hadzic, indicted by the tribunal for alleged war crimes, fled his home hours after UN prosecutors issued his arrest warrant to the authorities. (Associated Press)
Serbia-Montenegro Sets Up New Council on Co-operation with ICTY (July 8, 2004)
The government of Serbia-Montenegro established a special council on cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY), which will decide upon the extradition of four Serbian generals, all of whom are indicted by the ICTY for their alleged involvement in war crimes. Cooperation with the ICTY is a prerequisite for Serbia's possible entry into the European Union. (Associated Press)
UN Tribunal Sentences Wartime Croatian Serb Leader to 13 Years in Prison (June 30, 2004)
The International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY) sentenced former wartime Croatian Serb leader Milan Babic for his role in the ethnic cleansing campaign in Croatia from 1991 to 1992. Although the jail sentence is longer than prosecutors have requested, judges at the ICTY argued that the sentencing was to light given the gravity of the crimes committed. (UN News Center)
Stacy Sullivan on Milosevic and Genocide (May 28, 2004)
According to Foreign Policy in Focus (FPIF), both the International Criminal Court for Yugoslavia and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, a news agency that closely follows the court's proceedings, are "political" and "propaganda" arms of NATO. FPIF believes the court and the media source unjustly targeted former President Slobodan Milosevic, failed to investigate crimes committed by NATO forces, and ignored Croat and Bosnian Muslim violence.
Hague Tribunal Charges Croat "War Hero" Norac (May 25, 2004)
UN prosecutors want to transfer the case of former Croatian General Mirko Norac, who faces charges of crimes against humanity, from the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia to a Croatian court. Zagreb is under pressure to improve cooperation with the tribunal, a requirement for the country's integration into the European Union. (Reuters)
Judges Change the Rules (April 16, 2004)
Judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia amended the Court's rules by allowing only indictments concerning the most senior leaders to be tried by the tribunal. Experts see the amendment as an effort to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1534, pressuring the court to complete its work by the end of 2010. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
UN Court Rules Srebrenica Massacre Was Genocide(April 19, 2004)
The war crimes court in The Hague ruled that the 1995 Srebrenica massacre was genocide, influencing international justice and the definition of genocide. The ruling will effect the trials of former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic, former Bosnian Serb army Chief Ratko Mladic and former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, who are charged with genocide for the massacre. (Agence France Presse)
Srebrenica Massacre Conviction Reduced at Hague (April 19, 2004)
The International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia reduced former Bosnian Serb General Radislav Krstic's sentence after ruling that the trial chamber failed to prove Krstic's genocidal intent. Krstic was found guilty of genocide in August 2001, but has now received the lesser charge of aiding and abetting genocide. (Reuters)
Bosnian Croat Officials Plead Not Guilty to War Crimes at UN Court (April 7, 2004)
The International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia charged six former top Bosnian Croat officials with engaging in a criminal enterprise to "permanently remove or ethnically cleanse Bosnian Muslims and other non Croats" from parts of southwestern Bosnia. (Agence France Presse)
Washington Cuts off Aid to Serbia (March 31, 2004)
The US refused to disburse a remaining $25m of a $100m assistance package for Serbia, saying Belgrade is not fully cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. Washington is pressing for the extradition of former Bosnian Serb Commander Ratko Mladic, whom the US believes is hiding in Serbia. (BBC)
Serbs Will Pay Those Accused of War Crimes (March 31, 2004)
The Serbian parliament passed a law providing all war crimes indictees at the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY) with compensation for lost salaries, visa fees and legal charges. The government claims that the law marks a first step in "two-way" cooperation with The Hague while opponents argue the law was a "poorly disguised gesture of defiance toward the West." (Reuters)
10-Year Term for a Serb in War Crimes Called Light (March 31, 2004)
Former high-level Bosnian Serb official Miroslav Deronjic received a ten year sentence from the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia for war crimes. Judge Wolfgang Schomburg called the sentence out of proportion and a violation of the Court's spirit and mandate. (New York Times)
Security Council Calls on UN War Crimes Courts to Complete Work on Schedule (March 26, 2004)
The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution calling on the prosecutors of the war crimes tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda to complete their investigations by the end of 2004 and to conclude all of their work by 2010. (UN News Centre)
Ex-Navy Chief Jailed for Shelling (March 19, 2004)
The International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia handed down a seven year sentence to former commander of the Yugoslav navy Miodrag Jokic. Jokic, indicted for war crimes committed during the siege of Dubrovnik in 1991, pleaded guilty to the charges in August 2003. (Courier Mail)
Top Croat Army Suspects Surrender (March 12, 2004)
Croatian generals Ivan Cermak and Mladen Markac surrendered to the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. Generals Cermak and Markac face charges of participating in a "joint criminal enterprise," forcing the Serb population out of the Krajina region. (Institute of War and Peace Reporting)
"Adolf's" Sidekick Gets 18 Years (March 12, 2004)
The International Criminal Court for Yugoslavia (ICTY) sentenced former Luka camp employee Rajko Cesic to 18 years in prison as part of a plea agreement with the prosecution. By comparison, Cesic's co-accused Goran Jelisic, plead guilty to a similar indictment in 1999 and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
No More Extradition of Serbs to Tribunal (March 5, 2004)
Dragan Marsicanin, Serbia's new trade minister has ruled out extradition of more Serbs to the UN war crimes tribunal. The United States and the European Union have previously warned Serbia that further financial support depends on the country's co-operation with The Hague tribunal. (cnews)
War Crime Suspects May Avoid Tribunal (February 11, 2004)
In 2003, the Security Council, under pressure from the US, passed a resolution to close the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia by 2010. The US now backs a Security Council resolution by Britain which would transfer some of the chief prosecutors' powers to the tribunal's judges. The Guardian suggests that the resolution jeopardizes "the freedom and independence of the investigation and prosecution service at the tribunal."
Bosnian Serb's Genocide Trial Opens (February 3, 2004)
Momcilo Krajisnik, former head of the Serb parliament and right-hand man of Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic, has pleaded innocent to eight counts of war crimes, including genocide and complicity in genocide. Krajisnik's trial in the Hague is "one of the most critical for establishing political blame for atrocities committed by Bosnian Serb troops." (Associated Press)
Another Serb Defendant Stays on His Best Bad Behavior (February 2, 2004)
Vojislav Seselj, an ultranationalist politician and warlord, faces charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY). Seselj follows in the footprints of Slobodan Milosevic by attempting to use his trial as a political platform. (New York Times)
Former Croatian Serb Leader Pleads Guilty (January 27, 2004)
Former Croatian Serb leader Milan Babic pleaded guilty to crimes against humanity as part of a plea bargain deal with prosecutors from the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. However the three-judge tribunal said it would rule later on whether to accept the deal. (Associated Press)
2003
Bosnian Camp Chief Gets 23 Years (December 19, 2003)
The ICTY sentenced Dragan Nikolic, a Bosnian Serb Camp Chief, to a significantly longer prison term than previously negotiated in a plea bargain. Judges dismissed the prosecutions' recommended sentence of 15 years as "unjust." This raises the question if a 23 year sentence for a multiple murderer is just? (Institute of War and Peace Reporting)
Srebrenica Officer Gets 17 Years (December 10, 2003)
Former Bosnian Serb army commander, Dragan Obrenovic has been convicted by the ICTY for his role in the Srebrenica massacre. Obrenovic pled guilty to his crimes at Srebrenica, showed remorse and co-operation with the prosecution and thus received a reduced sentence.(BBC)
Jail for Sarajevo Siege General (December 5, 2003)
The ICTY sentenced Bosnian Serb General Stanislav Galic to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity. This first indictment in the trial for crimes committed in Sarajevo strikes many Bosnians as insufficient. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
UN Judges Probe Genocide Plea Bargains (December 3, 2003)
Looking at the example of the ICTY trial of Captain Momir Nikolic, Toby Sterling wonders if plea bargains are appropriate for war crimes. (Associated Press)
Bosnian Muslims Start War Trial (December 2, 2003)
Many Serbs view the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia as a political court with "anti-Serb bias." Observers state that the indictment of senior Bosnian Muslims will do little to change this sentiment. (BBC)
Hague Tribunal Comes of Age (November 19, 2003)
This Radio Netherlands article looks favorably on the controversial "mea culpa" pleas by Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal indictees. It acknowledges the slow progress of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's case but places the blame solely on Milosevic and not on the procedures of the ICTY.
Comment: What Price Justice? (November 7, 2003)
In an effort to speed up court procedures and cut costs the ICTY allows plea agreements with prosecutors. If the indictee pleas guilty he will serve a shorter sentence, there is no trial and no hearing of victims. By sentencing a multiply murderer to eight years prison, the court contradicts any national democratic court and its own previous sentencing policy. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
The Return of The Hague Tribunal and the West's Dilemma in Kosovo (November 1, 2003)
This Power and Interest News Report analyses the situation in Kosovo and the developments at The Hague's Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The report argues that the West uses the court to distract attention from growing unrest against the UN presence in Kosovo and to pressure Serbia into favorable concession for the Kosovar Albanians.
Donor Conference Held for Bosnian War Crimes Court (October 30, 2003)
The ICTY in The Hague receives help from a new UN War Crimes Chamber that will operate within Bosnia's state court system. Despite gradual reestablishment of Bosnia's democratic institutions, political opposition continues to undermine the self sufficiency of local courts. (The Associated Press)
Top Serbs Indicted for War Crimes (October 20, 2003)
The Chief Prosecutor to the War Crimes Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia indicted four top Serbian Generals for war crimes. Serbia's Prime Minister, Zoran Zivkovic refused to accept the indictment, further demonstrating Serbia's lack of cooperation with the Court. (BBC)
War Crimes Tribunals Unlikely to Meet Deadline (October 10, 2003)
The prosecutors for the war crimes tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, Carla Del Ponte and Hassan Jallow, doubt the likelihood of complete trials by end of 2008. A lack of cooperation from regional governments at the ICTY, and work overload for the ICTR causes the delay. (UN Wire)
Del Ponte Seeks Croatian Suspect (October 6, 2003)
Croatia's prospects of joining the European Union (EU) hinge on the handover of Ante Gotovina, a key war crime suspect to the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. Some EU member states say their support for Croatia's application will depend on its co-operation with the Tribunal.(BBC)
Two Days in Srebrenica (September 26, 2003)
The Institute for War & Peace Reporting looks into Captain Momir Nikolic's inside account on the massacre at Srebrenica. Nikolic further incriminates General Ratko Mladic and other major actors involved.
An Interview with Judge Theodor Meron the President of the ICTY (September 2003)
This comprehensive, informational interview with Judge Theodor Meron, president of the ICTY, offers answers to the court's completion strategy and current developments. The Judge also comments on what he sees as the court's role as a "model of international justice." (B92(Belgrade))
Troops Fail to Catch Mladic (August 14, 2003)
The hunt continues for Ratko Mladic, indicted for genocide during the 1992-5 war in Bosnia. International peacekeepers have so far been unable to apprehend either Mladic or his former commander, Radovan Karadzic. (Reuters)
Hague Deals Reduce Impact (July 24, 2003)
ICTY Prosecutors give lighter sentences to war criminals who admit their guilt and provide information against other defendants. Some victims and legal groups oppose the policy, however, arguing that those guilty of genocide must face the harshest punishment. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Ground-breaking Srebrenica Guilty Plea (May 2, 2003)
Former Bosnian Serb security officer Momir Nikolic pleaded guilty to crimes against humanity for his role in the 1995 killing of over 7,000 Bosnian Muslim men from Srebrenica. Prosecutors have dropped genocide charges against Nikolic in exchange for his testimony against three other military officers, marking a major breakthrough in the case. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Croatia's Ex-Army Chief Bobetko Dies (April 29, 2003)
Janko Bobetko, the most senior Croatian officer sought by the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia, died in his home at the age of 84. Many Croatians saw him as a national hero after he drove Serbian forces out of Croatia, despite the UN's efforts to try him for war crimes. (Associated Press)
Oric Hague Demo (April 18, 2003)
Two Hundred Bosnians demonstrated against the trial of former Srebenica commander Nasir Oric in The Hague. Many Bosnians believe Oric did far more than the UN to defend the people of Srebenica from Serbian forces and that his trial is a political exercise to negate rumors of the court's bias against Serbs. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Giving Victims a Voice (April 18, 2003)
A witness at Slobodan Milosevic's trial told of how he was rounded up twice and readied for execution, only to escape both times. This testimony may not link Milosevic to the executions, but such accounts are important as they give a voice to the nameless victims of the Yugoslav wars. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Anti-Hague Army Unit Abolished (April 17, 2003)
Authorities in Belgrade abolished a military commission suspected of passing information to Slobodan Milosevic in The Hague. The move dismantles a core group of Milosevic loyalists within the military and may dampen anti-Hague sentiment in the region. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Serb War Crimes Suspect Surrenders (April 21, 2003)
Former Serbian army general Miroslav Radic surrenders in Belgrade. The Serbian government is expected to extradite him to The Hague where he will be tried for the massacre of 200 civilians during the Croatian war. (Associated Press)
Srebenica Chief Denies War Crimes (April 15, 2003)
Former Bosnian Muslim Commander Naser Oric pleads innocent to war crimes at The Hague. Many Bosnian Muslims see Oric as a hero for defending his people during the Srebenica massacre. They believe tribunal officials are using him as a scapegoat to disprove allegations of the court's bias against Serbs. (BBC)
Group Named in Plot on Serbia Chief (April 9, 2003)
Serb Nationalist group the ‘Hague Brotherhood' assassinated the Serbian President, planning to replace the pro-western government with allies of Slobodan Milosevic in a coup. The group was angry about Zoran Djindjic's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia, fearing the Tribunal would indict them for war crimes. (Associated Press)
Prosecuting Rape Cases (March 28, 2003)
Many armies view rape as a mere by-product of war rather than a crime against humanity. The Hague has helped to change this perception through its outstanding success prosecuting generals for rape as a war crime. (Institute of War and Peace Reporting)
Milosevic Ally Pleads Not Guilty at Hague (March 25, 2003)
Former Serbian general Vojislav Seselj is attempting to turn his trial for war crimes into a circus in similar fashion to Slobodan Milosevic. Seselj gave himself up to indulge in long political tirades about the illegitimacy of the court during his defense at the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. (Guardian)
Serb's Killing Is a Setback to War Crimes Tribunal (March 13, 2003)
The shooting of Zoran Djindjic, the Serbian prime minister, not only highlights the fragile peace in the region but also represents a major setback for the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. Djindjic helped to capture and extradite key war criminals, making him a staunch ally of prosecutors in The Hague. (New York Times)
Bosnian Ex-Leader Sentenced to 11 Years for Her War Role (February 27, 2003)
Former Bosnian President Biljana Plavsic was sentenced to 11 years in prison by the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia despite pleading guilty to the crime of persecution. (Guardian)
KLA Men Indicted (February 20, 2003)
Many Albanians are shocked and angry at The Hague's indictment of three former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) for war crimes during the 1998-99 conflict. The three men are the first ethnic Albanians to be indicted by The Hague. (Institute of War and Peace Reporting)
Setting the Hague Record Straight (February 15, 2003)
The media has constantly questioned the credibility ot the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia but critics often focus on the wrong issues. This article refutes some of the skeptic's common arguments while acknowledging other imperfections of the ICTY. (IWPR)
Seselj Indicted (February 15, 2003)
Former Serbian general Vojislav Seselj has been indicted for inciting a frenzy of violence against Croatian villagers in 1992. The announcement comes just days after Seselj publicly affronted The Hague's legitimacy. (Institute of War and Peace Reporting)
Seselj Heading for The Hague? (February 7, 2003)
Former Serbian general Vojislav Seselj has pledged to turn himself in at The Hague Tribunal to "defend the Serbian people and the Serbian State from its enemies." The Milosevic trial has revealed evidence implicating Seselj in the murder of 20 Croats at the outset of the Croatian war, though The Hague has not formally called for his extradition. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
No Justice for Kosovo (January 31, 2003)
Bringing war criminals from the Kosovo conflict to justice is essential to alleviate feelings of vengeance in the region. Many offenders are hard to locate, extradite and put on trial, causing citizens to become disillusioned with the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Protected Witnesses Endangered (January 31, 2003)
The Trial of Slobodan Milosevic has featured closed sessions and protected witnesses even with strong protests from the defendant about these "medieval methods." Despite efforts by the Tribunal to protect the identities of a number of witnesses, this information has leaked to the public. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Washington Offers Indictees "Amnesty" (January 29, 2003)
The US government will reinstate economic aid to Serbia if 4 key war criminals are handed over to The Hague. The move trivializes the court's ‘wanted list' which contains 23 Serbian names, showing that disengaging from the Balkans is more important to the US administration than justice. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Cassese Reflects on Hague's Troubled History (January 29, 2003)
The first president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia, Antonio Cassese, reflects on the progress the court has made since its troubled beginning a decade ago. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Hague Will Win Credibility Battle (January 10, 2003)
Many thought Biljana Playsic's confession to war crimes in Bosnia would bring much needed credibility to the Hague. Maintaining the courts' consistent approach to fair process and procedure will be more crucial to winning public approval. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
2002
Ex-Bosnia Serb Leader Faces Sentencing (December 16, 2002)
Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and author Elie Wiesel will testify on the role Former Bosnian Serb leader, Biljana Plavsic, took in planning the purge of Muslims and other non-Serbs. (Gainsville Sun)
Hague to Question Croatian Generals (November 22, 2002)
Three former Croatian army leaders have volunteered to talk with Hague officials about their role in an attack on the Serb-held town of Knin during the Croatian war of the early nineties. Questioning does not imply that charges will follow, though the men's willing cooperation has surprised the international community. (IWPR)
Ex-Bosnian Serb Leader Enters Guilty Plea to The Hague (October 3, 2002)
Former Bosnian Serb president Biljana Plavsic took the ICTY by surprise, pleading guilty for crimes against humanity. She is the first female, high level official to publicly express sorrow for the war, a first step towards the reconciliation process. (New York Times)
Hold the Hague Accountable (September 9, 2002)
This virulent Washington Times piece criticizes the ICTY for being "incompetent" and posing "a threat to US national interests." This editorial recommends that "at the very least, the US should use its veto at the UN Security Council next year to block Mrs. Del Ponte's reappointment. Washington must hold The Hague accountable for its actions. If it doesn't, who will?"
Where Even the Most Wanted Can Find a Refuge (July 9, 2002)
Former Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic, who has been eluding NATO troops for the past six years, is still far from being brought to justice. Despite a $5 million reward, a country of supporters still refuses to cooperate. (New York Times)
Missing the Point in the Hague (March 27, 2002)
Human Rights Watch gives an overview of Slobodan Milosevic's trial and the work of the International Tribunal for Yugoslavia.
Tribunal Crisis Speculation Groundless (January 26, 2002)
While Slobodan Milosevic is about to be tried, western medias claim the International Criminal Tribunal for ex-Yugoslavia is "on the verge of collapse" due to financial bankruptcy. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
2001
UN Prosecutor Says Belgrade Shielding Mladic (November 28, 2001)
According to Carla Del Ponte, Yugoslave authorities are not cooperating in the arrest of Ratlo Mladic and Radovan Karadzic's, which is an affront to both the authority of the Security Council and the International Criminal Justice system. (Reuters)
Bunfight Breaks Out at UN Tribunal over Use of Body Parts (October 31, 2001)
The International Criminal Tribunal for ex-Yougoslavia's retention of bone and tooth samples to identify the age of victims raises controversial ethical issues. (Sydney Morning Herald)
War Crimes Court Reverses Convictions of Bosnians (October 24, 2001)
The appeal court of the International Criminal Tribunal for ex-Yougoslavia overturned the decision to indict three Bosnian Croats for their involvement in the 1993 massacres at Ahmi-ci by calling previous judgment "too general and vague". (The Independent)
War Crimes Prosecutor Presses Belgrade (October 22, 2001)
As Belgrade authorities refuse to hand over a dozen suspects, Carla Del Ponte expresses her disappointment on the lack of Yugoslavia's cooperation. (Associated Press)
Ex-Yugoslav General Plans to Surrender (October 18, 2001)
For the first time, a former Yugoslavian general surrendered to the International Criminal Tribunal for ex-Yougoslavia. The general hopes are "to prove his innocence". (Associated Press)
Bosnian Serb Parliament Adopts Law on Cooperation With The UN War-Crimes Tribunal (October 3, 2001)
A new law should open the way for the arrest of the two notorious war crimes R. Karadzic and R. M. Ladic. (Associated Press)
General Surrenders over Killing of Croats (September 25, 2001)
After the governmental decision that NATO-led peacekeeping troops and local police will arrest any indicted Bosnians who do not surrender, a former Bosnian army commander submitted to the war crime tribunal in the Hague. (London Times)
Kosovo Assault 'Was Not Genocide' (September 7, 2001)
The UN-supervised Supreme Court of Pristina ruled that "exactions committed by Milosevic's regime cannot be qualified as criminal acts of genocide, since their purpose was not the destruction of the Albanian ethnic group... but its forceful departure from Kosovo". This decision may have implications on Milosevic's fate. (BBC)
Srebenica Genocide Judgment (August 7, 2001)
Mirko Klarin reviews the evidence against Krstic and the judges' careful reasoning in reaching the International Criminal Tribunal for ex-Yougoslavia's historic first conviction of genocide. (IWPR)
War Crimes: The Ethnic Balance (August 3, 2001)
This article examines the reasons for and the signficance of the imbalance in prosecutions between Serbs, Croats, and Albanians. (BBC)
Three Bosnian Muslims Indicted (August 3, 2001)
The ICTY indicted three Bosnian Muslim military officers the same day it found Bosnian Serb Krstic guilty of genocide, in what appears to be an effort to refute Serbian charges of the one-sidedness of the tribunal. (Radio Netherlands)
Judge's Words: 'Cleansing Became Genocide (August 3, 2001)
Following are excerpts from the sentencing judgment of Radislav Krstic read yesterday by Presiding Judge Almiro Rodrigues, as provided by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. (New York Times)
General Guilty of Bosnia Genocide (August 2, 2001)
The ICTY has sentenced Radislav Krstic to 46 years in prison for committing genocide as the second in command in charge of Serbian troops who killed over 7,000 Bosnian Muslim refugees in the town of Srebrenica. It was the court's first finding of guilt for the crime of genocide. (BBC)
War Crimes Court Takes It Easy on a Cooperative Bosnian Serb (July 31, 2001)
Stevan Todorovic, a former Bosnian police chief who was known for his cruelty to non-Serbs, was sentenced to a mere 10 years in jail because he pleaded guilty to charges against him and was cooperative with the tribunal. (New York Times)
Serbia Finds Where Bodies Are Buried, and Investigates (July 31, 2001)
Far from lessening the pace of war crimes investigations after Mr. Milosevic was handed over, authorities have pressed on with the investigation of killings of Albanians by the Serbs during the war over Kosovo in 1999. At least ten freezer trucks loaded with dead bodies have been found in the Danube river. (New York Times)
Crimes in the ‘Homeland War' (July 28, 2001)
For the first time the UN tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has openly accused Croatian citizens, including former President Franjo Tudjman, with war crimes committed during the Croat military's retaking of territory lost to Milosevic's Serb forces. (IWPR)
Croatian Faces War Crimes Trial (July 25, 2001)
Croatian General Rahim Ademi, indicted by the ICTY for war crimes, arrived voluntarily at The Hague in full military dress proclaiming his innocence. But Croatian authorities are hunting down the second Croatian indictee, widely believed to be General Ante Gotovina. (BBC)
Accountability or Absolution? (July 18, 2001)
Aryeh Neier explores whether Milosevic's trial will awaken a sense of responsibility among Serbians for their complicity in atrocities committed against Albanians, or instead will only deepen their sense of being victims of the war. (IPWR)
Croatia's Cooperation With the UN War Crimes Tribunal (July 16, 2001)
This timeline outlines major developments leading to Croatia's eventual decision to cooperate with The Hague tribunal. (BBC)
Croatian PM Wins Confidence Vote (July 16, 2001)
Prime Minister Ivica Racan survived a confidence vote after promising to cooperate fully with the ICTY in the extradition of Croatian generals. One general has voluntarily submitted himself to the jurisdiction of the tribunal; the second said he is unwilling to face the court. (BBC)
Keep Politics Out of the Global Courts (July 13, 2001)
Cherie Booth and Philippe Sands criticize the selection process of the international judiciary, and its overwhelmingly male composition. (The Guardian)
Bosnian Serb War Crimes Suspects Face Extradition (July 11, 2001)
Zeljko Cvijanovic examines the pressure on the Republika Srpska to deliver Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic to The Hague in wake of Milosevic's recent extradition from Serbia. (IWPR)
Jelisic Appeal Judgment: No Retrial on Genocide Charges (July 11, 2001)
The ICTY decided there was insufficient evidence to prove Jelisic killed with "genocidal intent," but also held importantly that a defendant could be guilty of genocide even if the crime did not occur within a wider "genocidal plan." (IWPR)
Croatia in Turmoil After Agreeing to Send Two to Tribunal (July 8, 2001)
The Croatian government is experiencing fierce opposition at home to its recent decision to extradite two of its citizens to The Hague. The identity of the men, who have been indicted for war crimes including genocide, still remains unknown. (New York Times) ]
Human Remains Recovered From Mass Graves in Bosnia (July 8, 2001)
Bosnian Serb authorities, soon after their controversial decision to send two of its citizens to The Hague, unearths a mass grave in Srebrenica. (Associated Press)
Milosevic Has a Point (July 6, 2001)
Michael Mandel argues Milosevic's claims the ICTY is a "false tribunal" should not be dismissed too lightly considering valid charges of war crimes against NATO were summarily dismissed by the ICTY prosecutor. (Toronto Globe & Mail)
Bosnian Serbs Are 'Ready' To Seize Men For Tribunal (July 5, 2001)
The Bosnian Serb government, which has until now refused all cooperation with The Hague tribunal, said today that it was willing to arrest indicted suspects. (New York Times)
Amnesty and UN Staff Accuse Kosovo War Crimes Tribunal of Ethnic Bias (June 20, 2001)
Human rights observors accused the ICTY of making "politically driven decisions" after the tribunal convicted a Serb man to 15 years in prison for allegedly taking part in the Racak massacre. UN legal officials say that procedural irregularities and contradictory evidence warranted abandoning the case. (Guardian)
Human Rights Watch Says June 29 Donor Conference Should be Postponed (June 20, 2001)
Citing recent acknowledgments of top Yugoslav officials that a special law is not necessary to extradite Milosevic, Human Rights Watch claims the upcoming donor conference should be postponed because Yugoslavia will not cooperate with the ICTY. (Human Rights News)
Serbia May Push for Independence if Hague Law Turned Down (June 19, 2001)
Serbian Minister of Justice Vladan Batic has hinted at the possibility of Serbia going independent if the law on cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal is not adopted by Yugoslav federal parliament. (BBC)
Yugo War Crimes Bill Could Come Before Serbian Parliament: Minister (June 19, 2001)
Deputy PM Miroljbus Labus stated if the draft law enabling extradition of Milosevic did not pass the Yugoslav federal parliament it could still be brought before Serbian parliament for adoption. Montenegrin members of federal parliament have made clear they will not support the law. (Agence France Presse)
Yugoslavia in Make-Or-Break Situation Over War Crimes Law (June 15, 2001)
Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus requested President Kostunica to attend the parliament session where the fate of the draft law allowing extradition of Yugoslav subjects to The Hague will be decided. Failure to pass the law will result in the loss of much needed foreign funding. (Agence France Presse)
A Job 'Half Done' (June 14, 2001)
Member states' failure to to arrest and transfer suspects to The Hague in a timely manner is forcing the tribunal to retry many cases, slowing down the judicial process and raising tribunal costs. (M2 Presswire)
UN General Assembly Elects 27 Judges to the ICTY (June 14, 2001)
The General Assembly elected 27 judges to the International Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia to create a pool of ad hoc judges on which the court could draw, on a case-by-case basis, to hasten completion of the trials. Mexico announced its decision to begin support of the tribunal. (M2 Presswire)
Two Serbs Sentenced for Role in Kosovo Massacres (June 14, 2001)
A three-judge international panel in the southern city of Prizren made its first two convictions for war crimes.(Reuters)
Serbian Minister Comments on Exhumed Bodies, CGS Pavkovic's role in Kosovo (June 13, 2001)
Minister of Internal Affairs Dusan Mihajlovic questioned General Pavkovic's reasons for claiming that he did not know what was going on in Kosovo during the war. (Associated Press)
Yugoslav President Confident That Cabinet Will Approve Extradition Law (June 13, 2001)
Kostunica stated his cabinet is certain to approve an extradition law, but Montenegrin lawmakers, whose support is vital to passing the law through parliament, remain opposed to any law that allows extradition of Yugoslavians to the Hague tribunal. (Associated Press)
Warrants – New Test for Belgrade (June 8, 2001)
The ICTY issued an order for the arrest and extradition of two members of Bosnian Serb security forces. The accused are citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and thus cannot shelter behind "constitutional obstructions" which Belgrade officials say bar the extradition of Yugoslav subjects. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
The Tribunal's ‘Illegal Detention' (May 26, 2001)
Defense counsel allege an illegal kidnapping, raising serious questions about the rights of the accused and procedures for arrest and transfer to The Hague. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Making Way for the Law (May 26, 2001)
Draft legislation in Serbia on cooperation with The Hague leaves room for political interference, but the law nevertheless marks a major legal breakthrough. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
Yugoslavia Drafts War Crimes Law (May 23, 2001)
To enable the extradition of war crimes suspects - including Milosevic - to The Hague, Belgrade drafted a law taking into account "demands for respect of Yugoslavia's legal sovereignty and the necessary cooperation with the United Nations." (Associated Press)
Serbia and The Hague (May 5, 2001)
Despite the reluctance of officials and citizens to face the past, justice is increasingly discussed in Belgrade, including the possible formation of a State Commission for Truth and Reconciliation and the alternative to revise the law to extradite Milosevic to The Hague. (Institute of War & Peace Reporting)
UN to Set Up Agency to Catch War Criminals (April 30, 2001)
Carla Del Ponte wants to propose the creation of a monitoring team, similar to the existing one for Rwanda, in order to catch war crimes suspects in the former Yugoslavia.(United Press International)
US Set to Finesse Tribunal Issue and Allow Belgrade Aid (March 29, 2001)
The United States is ready to certify that Yugoslavia is cooperating with the ICTY, thereby securing the US economic aid to the country, says the New York Times.The certification will probably be accompanied by a statement criticizing Yugoslavia for not cooperating enough with the tribunal.
The ICTY to Investigate Crimes Committed by Albanians (March 21, 2001)
After a meeting with Serbian authorities, Carla Del Ponte announced she would investigate alleged atrocities committed by Albanians. Yugoslav officials promised to examine internal laws in order to extradite criminals such as Milosevic.(Associated Press)
A New Legal Weapon to Deter Rape (March 4, 2001)
The New York Times examines the decision of the ICTY ruling rape as a crime against humanity - an evolution in the social and legal atmosphere.
Croat Instigator of Ethnic Cleansing given 25 Years (February 27, 2001)
The Hague tribunal sentenced Dario Kordic, a close ally of former President Franjo Tudjman, to 25 years in prison for crimes against humanity and other violations. A warning for other indicted leaders…(Daily Telegraph)
Three Bosnian Serbs Sentenced On Wartime Sexual Crimes (February 22, 2001)
The UN War Crimes Tribunal made a step forward by judging mass rape as a crime against humanity and a violation of the customs of war. (CNN)
Hague Tribunal Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte Storms Out of Meeting with President Kostunica (January 24, 2001)
To Del Ponte's chagrin, the Yugoslav leadership continues to oppose the extradition of Milosevic, a position supposed by most Yugoslavs. But the government is split over the question of what charges should be brought against their former leader in a Serbian court. (Institute for War & Peace Reporting)
Kostunica Turns Down Meeting with UN War Crimes Prosecutor (January 15, 2001)
Because, he says, the ICTY "represents more a political institution than a judicial one," Kostunica refuses to receive the ICTY Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, on the pretext that she is not important enough to fit into his busy schedule. (Agence France Presse)
Bosnian Serb Leader Pleads Innocent at War Crimes Tribunal (January 11, 2001)
Biljana Plavsic, the former Bosnia Serb president, surrendered voluntarily to the UN tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Charged with every crime in the tribunal's statute, she pleaded innocent.(Associated Press)
2000
Croatia Takes Tougher Stance towards UN Court (December 12, 2000)
As the ICT for former Yugoslavia is investigating the responsibility of Croatia's army chief in crimes committed against rebel Serbs, the relations between Croatia's government and the UN war crimes tribunal are deteriorating.(Reuters)
Kostunica Gives Nod to War-Crimes Tribunal in Serbia (October 25, 2000)
The new Yugoslavian president is set to allow the reopening of an office to gather evidence for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, in return for access to international financial institutions. But should the West be asking for larger concessions from Yugoslavia? (Christian Science Monitor)
Ruling puts arrests in question (October 21, 2000)
Three judges of the ICJ gave a ruling claiming that war criminal Stevan Todorovic's arrest had been illegal. This ruling might set an important precedent.(The Guardian)
Srebrenica General Takes Stand In War Crimes Trial (October 17, 2000)
Former Bosnian Serb general Radislav Krstic began his own defense on Monday. The case will be a significant test for the Hague-based tribunal, which has yet to secure a genocide conviction. (Reuters)
UN Tribunal Denies Sending Assassins to Yugoslavia (August 1, 2000)
Fact or fiction? Conspiracy or cover-up? The International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia dismisses as fiction alleged links between the tribunal and a group of Dutch men claimed by Yugoslavia as "assassins" after Milosevic. (Reuters/ABC News)
Russian Duma Members of Parliament, In Belgrade, Blast UN Tribunal (July 10, 2000)
Russia is opposed to the UN war crimes tribunal indictment of Yugoslav parliamentarians. Russia instead invites indicted Ministers to Moscow and wishes to sign a free trade agreement with Yugoslavia. (Reuters)
UN Tribunal Puts New Focus on Rape as War Crime (April 25, 2000)
The trial of three Serbian men at The Hague represents the first case of indictments for sexual enslavement in the history of international tribunals. (Christian Science Monitor)
ICTY's Success Underlines Desirability of International Criminal Court (April 10, 2000)
An opinionated article in The Guardian argues that with the capture of Bosnian Serb leader Momcilo Krajisnik, the case for a permanent UN International Criminal Court is bolstered.
Remarks of Judge Richard May, Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, to the Fourth Session of the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court (March 20, 2000)
Richard May of the ICTFY urged the Preparatory Commission of the ICC to make every effort in ensuring effective justice will be delivered at the ICC. Without addressing the practicalities and details of the proceeding process, the ICC would bear no more than its name. (Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court Press Release JL/P.I.S./479-E )
Kosovo Inquiry Confirms US Fears of War Crimes Court (January 3, 2000)
A New York Times article about the recent scrutiny of US military members by the International Criminal Tribunal and the Pentagon's adament opposition to external jurisdiction over the US military.
1999
War Crimes Court Faces Logjam (August 15, 1999)
"Prosecutors have dropped charges against 18 lesser Bosnia offenders and begun mass trials in which charges stem from one event. Nevertheless, suspects still regularly wait for more than a year before their case even gets to trial." (Nando Media)
Two Perspectives on the Indictment of Milosevic by the UN's ICT (June 1999)
Editorial from The Nation and opinion piece from Toronto's Globe and Mail react to the war crimes tribunal's decision.
Investigators From Many Nations to Begin Search for War Crimes (June 15, 1999)
New York Times article on the in-depth investigations that will take place in Kosovo by 12 teams of experts appointed by the international tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands.
20 Russian MPs to Investigate NATO Crimes in Yugoslavia (June 9, 1999)
The resolution states: "NATO aggression against Yugoslavia should be viewed as a military crime and its leadership should be punished for the crime."
