Karadzic Did Not Operationally Command the Army
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However, retired general Radinovic stuck to his allegation that Karadzic only had command and control at the strategic level, while operational decisions about activities were made by the VRS Main Headquarters, which was led by Commander Ratko Mladic.
Karadzic is charged with genocide in Srebrenica, the persecution of Bosniaks and Croats throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, terror against civilians in Sarajevo by long-lasting shelling and sniping and taking UNPROFOR members hostage. Mladic is also on trial at The Hague for those same crimes.
Prosecutor Hildegard Uertz-Retzlaff presented the witness with VRS documents and Karadzics statements about the unified command and single precedence in that Army.
However, Radinovic responded by saying that, by its decision on establishment of VRS from May 1992, the Republika Srpska assembly introduced dual precedence over the Army, considering the fact that Karadzic was declared supreme Commander and Mladic Commander of the VRS Main Headquarters.
The witness said that the Main Headquarters was authorised for operational command and that it did not need Karadzics permission for non-strategic activities. The chain of operational command did not start from the supreme Commander, Radinovic said.
Radinovic stuck to this allegation even after the Prosecutor had quoted what Karadzic had said in front of the Assembly in 1994. On that occasion he said: I am the one signing and making decisions. I shall be responsible for decisions.
Prosecutor Uertz-Retzlaff asked the witness whether, in his report he considered the entire Sarajevo as a big military target.
It was a figurative statement, but it was as if almost the entire Sarajevo was a military target, said Radinovic, who determined that more than 2,000 legitimate military targets existed in the city.
While denying Radinovics allegation that Karadzic did not give any orders related to the attack on Srebrenica, except permission to the VRS to enter the town on July 9, 1995, the prosecutors presented a document dated July 8, according to which Karadzic ordered the Drina Corps Command to continue the attack with full steam. Karadzics expert responded by saying that it was not an order, but a general comment.
Radinovic confirmed that he cannot defend the unlawful sentence contained in Directive number 7, by which Karadzic ordered the VRS to undertake well-composed and steady activities in order to create unbearable conditions of full uncertainty without hope for further survival and life of the population in Srebrenica.
The Prosecution is due to complete the cross-examination of Radinovic on Friday, July 19.
