The Hague Tribunal’s prosecution says that it does not object to a request by Ratko Mladic’s defence for his trial to be postponed.
The genocide and war crimes trial of former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic, which was adjourned on May 17, a day after it opened, was due to resume on June 25. However that is now uncertain.
“The prosecution admits that its earlier assessment of problems related to disclosure of documents was wrong. The latest inspection has revealed that the defence does not have access to 4,498 documents. The prosecution is currently collecting this evidence and expects to be able to submit as soon as possible during next week,” Hague prosecutors said on Friday.
Mladic’s defence has filed two motions, on May 31 and six days later, requesting that the examination of first witnesses be postponed because it has still not received all the necessary evidence from the prosecution.
In its response on Friday, the prosecution agreed that there are grounds for the Trial Chamber to reconsider its decision on when the trial resumes, however it objected to allegations by the defence that there was an “inappropriate contact between the prosecution and the Trial Chamber in view of solving the disclosure problems”.
“The Defence’s allegation that the Prosecution constantly wrongly presents the situation related to the disclosure of evidence is not true. The prosecution has always worked with good intent and transparently,” the prosecution said.
The trial of Mladic for genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of laws and customs of war started on May 16.
In July 1995 Srebrenica was shelled and occupied by the Army of Republic of Srpska,VRS, despite being declared a protected area by the United Nations. More than 7,000 people were killed, the victims of genocide.
Key dates and events in the Bosnia war.
The Bosnian Serb commander’s role in the genocide committed in Srebrenica is described in detail in many indictments and verdicts pronounced before local and international judicial institutions.