Karadzics Trial Continues after a Break
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The indictment charges Karadzic with genocide in Srebrenica, persecution of Bosniaks and Croats throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, which reached the scale of genocide in seven municipalities, terror against civilians in Sarajevo by long-lasting shelling and sniping and taking UNPROFOR members hostage.
Karadzic presented the judges with 209 defence witnesses so far. It was announced that Prvoslav Davinic, who was Minister of Defence of Serbia and Montenegro in 2004 and 2005, was among the witnesses, would testify this week.
Davinic, who was an official with the United Nations Body for global disarmament in New York during the Bosnian war, will say, in his testimony, that Karadzic told him, during their meeting in Pale in the first half of 1996, that the Republika Srpska Army, VRS did not fire a mine-thrower grenade, which killed 43 and wounded more than 75 citizens at Markale market in Sarajevo on August 28, 1995.
Former VRS Commander Ratko Mladic is due to testify in Karadzics defence in late February. Mladic is on trial, in a separate case, for having committed genocide and other crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Considering the fact that Mladic refused to testify voluntarily, the Trial Chamber issued a special warrant, obliging him to testify.
Mladics Defence requested the Tribunal to reconsider its decision, claiming that it was contrary to the rules to oblige Mladic to testify at Karadzics trial, considering the fact that both of them were on trials due to being charged for the same crimes. According to the Defences allegations, Mladic is mentally not capable of testifying. Therefore, the Defence requested the Tribunal to subject Mladic to medical examinations in order to confirm that.
As indicated in the warrant, obliging him to testify, Mladic is due to appear at Karadzics trial on February 28.
Karadzic, who is due to complete the presentation of defences evidence at the beginning of March, announced that he would personally testify in his defence at the end of the evidence presentation process. Karadzics testimony should last 16 working hours.
Believe me, I can hardly wait to testify, Karadzic said at the last session of The Hague Tribunal held last year.
