ICTY Prosecution: Tolimir 'Close Associate' of Mladic
| 26 February 2010 |
“Evidence that we will present during this trial will show how Ratko Mladic said that “Tolimir is my closest associate,” announced Nelson Thayer, the prosecutor in the case.
The trial against Tolimir could be the last one started in the front of the ICTY if Mladic, who is indicted for crimes in Bosnia, and Goran Hadzic, who is indicted for crimes in Croatia, are not arrested before 2012. The when Tribunal mandate should be over, according to current plans.
Tolimir was the Assistant Commander for Intelligence and Security of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska, VRS, during genocide in Srebrenica in July 1995.
In that position, Zdravko Tolimir was one of seven Assistant Commanders who reported directly to the Commander of the Main Staff of the VRS, Ratko Mladić.
He is charged with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws and customs of war.
In its opening statement, the Prosecution said that Tolimir helped to capture Srebrenica and Zepa, both UN protected enclaves in eastern Bosnia.
The plan to conquer these zones was made in May 1992 by the Srpska Republika of Bosnia and Herzegovina, later renamed Republika Srpska, when the statelet's assembly adopted “six strategic goals” presented by Karadzic.
“Two of these goals were like torches for Srebrenica and Zepa. The flame culminated in the fields of death in eastern Bosnia,” the prosecutor said.
“Six strategic goals” is a document related to goals of “Serbian people” in Bosnia. The Prosecution concentrated on explaining the first three, which are the most relevant for the Tolimir case.
The Prosecution argued that the first goal was to establish borders of separation between Serbs and the other ethnic groups in the country. The second one was the establishment of the corridor “from the northeast to the west of Bosnia”, and a corridor in the valley of the river Drina.
“The goal was the elimination of the Drina as a border between Serb states,” explained the prosecutor.
“The evidence of the will to fulfill these goals was the establishment of the Army, whose chief commander was Ratko Mladic.”
According to the Prosecution, Tolimir was present during the assembly's session and was mentioned by Mladic in his inaugural speech the same day.
Tolimir is representing himself during the trial.
The trial is scheduled to continue next Monday.
