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ICTY: Concern Over Decision by the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina

MKSJ/ICTY

07 October 2009  Nerma Jelacic, spokesperson of the Hague Tribunal, said, at a press conference in The Hague, that the question of international personnel serving in the Court and Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a major issue that should be seriously considered.

"The Tribunal is aware of the fact that the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has to employ local personnel only at some stage. This is its goal for the future. However, this is not the right moment," Jelacic said, adding that the Court in Sarajevo is seen as one of the most successful models of addressing the past in the region, for which reason the Tribunal expressed its trust in it by referring to it a number of cases to be tried.

"The Tribunal calls on the political representatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina to reconsider the decision and not to diminish the progress that has been made so far in strengthening the rule of law. The Tribunal calls on the international community to continue providing support to local judiciary in fighting impunity," Jelacic said.

On October 1 the House of Peoples of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina definitively refused to accept the proposed changes of the Law on the Court and Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by which the mandate of international personnel working in those institutions would have been extended. As per the existing strategy, the international personnel are to remain in Bosnia and Herzegovina until the end of 2009. After this date the Court and Prosecution would be staffed by local personnel only.

Delegates from Republika Srpska objected to extending the mandate of international personnel.

Senior officials of the Court and Prosecution, a number of international organizations and embassies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Office of the High Representative, which has the authority to change the decision, have all expressed their support for international staff members staying on after 2009.