INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL HAS CARRIES OUT FIRST PUBLIC HEARINGS

"Segodnia" newspaper, November 10, 1994, p. 5, supplemented with map of ex-Yugoslavia and picture of trial hall.

By Yelena SHCHEDRUNOVA

At last International Criminal Tribunal, that was decided to be founded in February of 1993, has begun its work in Hague. First public hearings were devoted to the case of Dushan Tadich, ex-chief of concentration camp Omarska in Bosnia, who is in Germany now. The Tribunal, considering itself a more competent body, has demanded the extradition of the criminal from Bonn, where the trial against him was already started. Besides, Hague supposes, that new accused may be disclosed during hearings, the new accused, that are not accessible for German authorities, but quite accessible for International Tribunal. It is expected, that Dushan Tadich will appear at the Tribunal in the beginning of next year.

As it often occurs, the beginning of Tribunal work was marked with a demonstration: "Association of Defense of Peoples Under Treat" has demanded to bring to trial Mr. Miloshevich, Mr. Karadzhich, and Mr. Mladich. However, defenders of peoples are obviously lag the situation, deliberately or not: at the moment the list can be appended with Mr. Izetbegovich and Mr. Delich, since the offensive begun by Bosnian troops two weeks ago is gradually returning Bosnia to times of civil war of full scale.

As AFP informs, battles are still on in the West, where Serbians are slowly re-conquering territories in Bikhach region and are still holding Bosanska-Krupa city. In the central part of the Republic combats have moved from Krupes city, occupied last week by united Moslem and Croatian troops, towards Doni-Vakuf city, an important communication center. Artillery bombardments are resumed on the North of the country, around Doboj and Grachanitsa.

But the most serious situation is in Sarayevo, where sides are continuing an everyday artillery duel in living blocks. Hospitals are full with wounded, the second skirmish has killed three children and a woman. UN military headquarters has called NATO air forces, that are already several days flying low around the city. However, their appearance didn't stop sides at war, while real aircraft attacks are out of question: according to one of "blue helmets" chiefs, an attack of a precise aim, e. i. a gun, will cause numerous victims among civic population, who must be defended by UN forces.

Chief of "blue helmets" in Bosnia general Michael Rows asked leaders of Bosnian and Serbian armies to organize an urgent meeting in Sarayevo airport (to the point, last skirmishes occurred just in that region), and try to stop the deadly storm that turned to the city. However, neither general Delich, nor his Serbian colleague general Mladich accepted the invitation: Sarayevo and Pale are still prefer to deal themselves, without any mediators on the battle field.

Serbians, who declared the total mobilization last Friday, surely intend to use all human resources that they have. The question is even to close universities: students will form special brigades. Military tribunals have already started their work: according to Pale, leaders of Bosanska-Krupa city didn't tale measures provided by war situation.

Translated into English by A.Prishchenko, November 11, 1994