Transcript of the International Agencies’ Joint Press Conference

OHR

Schwarz-Schilling Meets with Nicholas Burns

As you are all aware, the High Representative and EU Special Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, is in Washington this week for a series of meetings with key US decision-makers. Today, on the second day of this visit, he will be meeting with the Under Secretary for Political Affairs in the State Department, Nicholas Burns.

His talks at the State Department will focus on preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Peace Implementation Council in Brussels on 26 and 27 February, at which the international community will review its decision to close the Office of the High Representative at the end of June.

Christian Schwarz-Schilling will also address impediments to the signing of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union, most notably police restructuring and PBS reform, as well as economic reforms and the process of government formation.

The meeting between Christian Schwarz-Schilling and Nicholas Burns is scheduled for 11:00 am Washington time (5 pm in Bosnia and Herzegovina ) and will be followed by a joint statement to media.

Later today, Christian Schwarz-Schilling will meet with Rosemary di Carlo, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and Judy Ansley, the Senior Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council. Yesterday, the High Representative and EU Special Representative already met with Brcko Arbitrator Roberts Owen.

Following his visit to Washington, the High Representative and EU Special Representative will travel to London for talks with senior officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

ICTY

Good morning on behalf of the ICTY.

At first, I want to inform you that the English and BCS translations of the judgment in the case of Enver Hadžihasanović and Amir Kubura have been recently posted on the ICTY website. Hadžihasanović was sentenced to five and Kubura to two and a half yearsć imprisonment because, while holding high positions in the ABiH 3rd Corps, i.e. 7th Muslim Brigade during 1993,  they failed to prevent or punish crimes committed by their subordinates, including so-called Mujahedins.

The judgment was published in French on 15 March 2006, but due to the volume of the judgment it took a lot of time to be translated. For instance, the BCS translation contains 760 pages.

I have Information Sheets about this case for you.

For all of you who are interested in I also have copies of the appellant’s brief of Amir Kubura which was submitted on 22 January. Kubura is asking that his conviction be revoked, i.e. that a verdict of not guilty is pronounced. Enver Hadžihasanović has not submitted his appellant’s brief yet.

The Prosecution submitted its appellant’s brief alreadyon 3 July last year. In its appeal the Prosecution argues that the Chamber did not take sufficiently into consideration the gravity of the crimes, and the pronounced sentences were manifestly inadequate.

In the end, I want to mention that I have a couple of copies of the pre-trial-brief of Rasim Delić for those interested.

EUFOR

No statement.

RTQs

Aida Hasanbegovic, Pink BH:

Question for Mr. Hellman. Can you give us more information on yesterday’s meeting of Geoff Hoon and Chief Prosecutor?

ICTY

We have issued a Press Release yesterday and I have no additional information.