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On the fourth day of his testimony at Radovan Karadzic’s trial at the Hague, retired British General Rupert Smith answers the indictee’s cross-examination questions about demilitarization of Srebrenica protected zone in 1995.
During the course of cross-examination of Rupert Smith, former UNPROFOR Commander, indictee Karadzic tried to prove that Srebrenica was not a demilitarized zone and that the local Bosniak population was armed in the course of all war years.
Karadzic alleged that the Republika Srpska Army, VRS occupied the protected zone defending itself from contact attacks conducted by Bosniak forces, which, despite the signed agreement, were not disarmed.
As said by the indictee, VRS members acted as “a passive defence” from frequent offensives conducted by the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina forces situated inside the enclaves.
“The attacks against Serbs’ positions and the surrounding Serb villages and civilians lasted for two years. We then decided to stop that and defend ourselves,” Karadzic said, asking Smith to confirm his allegation before the Hague Tribunal.
The British General said he absolutely agreed that the enclave had existed for two years prior to its fall, but he could not speak about the things that happened prior to 1995, because he was not present in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the time.
During the course of the examination the former President of Republika Srpska said that UNPROFOR was also to be blamed for VRS’ attack on Srebrenica in July 1995, because, as he said, it failed to demilitarize the protected zones.
Responding to the accusation, General Smith said that he considered that UNPROFOR was not obliged to disarm any of the conflicting parties, adding that the parties themselves undertook to hand their weapons in.
“The UN’s duty was to supply the Bosniak population inside the enclave. We did not have mandate to disarm anyone. At least, this is what I think,” witness Smith said.
Karadzic is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws and customs of war. He is charged with crimes committed with the aim of permanently removing Bosnian Muslims and Croats from the territories controlled by Serbs, spreading terror among the civilian population of Sarajevo and eliminating Muslims in Srebrenica.
Contrary to the Prosecution’s allegations that Serbs stopped humanitarian convoys in order to additional deteriorate the living conditions for the enclave residents, Karadzic said that the UN convoys were used for smuggling of weapons, fuel and other supplies, which the Bosniak side used in combat.
General Smith did not want to comment his allegations, saying they were groundless.
The trial of Karadzic is due to continue on Monday, February 14.
D.E.
