OHR
HR/EUSR Supports EUPM Commissioner Meassures
The EU Police Mission is operating in
The High Representative/EU Special Representative has full confidence in General Coppola and strongly supports the action taken by the Head of the EUPM. This is a professional police matter. It is not a political issue and political leaders should treat it as such. The HR/EUSR calls upon all to refrain from attempts to politicise this issue.
OSCE
UNHCR and OSCE Advocates For a Permanent Housing Solution for Roma Families from Butmir Settlement
UNHCR and OSCE welcome the recent initiative of Ministers Zlatko Petrovic, Minister for Urban Planning and Protection of the Environment, Sarajevo Canton, andAmer Ćenanović, Mayor of Ilidza Municipality, to improve the living conditions of the 45 Roma families currently living in dire circumstances at the Butmir settlement. In a common position statement, the OSCE and UNHCR recall that a permanent resolution to the housing situation of these families is a priority, in accordance with the National Roma Strategy and
The international community has in the past actively advocated the legalisation of the Butmir settlement or, alternatively, the permanent allocation of a new site for the families residing there. Such moves would help to realise their right to adequate housing, security of tenure and improvement in their standards of living, including access to sanitation, electricity and water supply.
However, in their common position statement UNHCR and OSCE caution against any temporary relocation of the Roma families as being contrary to both international and domestic law, unless a long-term plan is designed to ensure the sustainable resettlement of the families. This would necessarily include conferring legal security of tenure and allocation of sufficient resources by local authorities for development of infrastructure at the relocation site. Furthermore, the international organisations state that the 45 families at Butmir have a legitimate claim to tenure based on their well-documented long-time residency there, which ranges from 12 to 40 years, and that, should they be relocated, they have an undisputed right to compensation.
UNHCR and OSCE note that under international law, States should take measures aimed at conferring security of tenure upon households who lack such protection, in consultation with the affected persons, by granting an occupancy permit or title to a tract of land for residential use. The Gorica settlement was cited as a similar example, where the Roma families received full ownership rights to the constructed units built on undeveloped land transferred from the
UNHCR and OSCE give their support to the Minister’s proposal to establish a working group consisting of relevant authorities at State,
The two international organisations are committed to cooperating with the local authorities and Roma representatives to find an adequate solution to the difficult situation of the Roma families at Butmir.
ICTY
Good morning on behalf of the Tribunal.
The Tribunal’s Appeals Chamber yesterday affirmed the decision to refer the case against Mitar Rašević and Savo Todović, charged with crimes committed in Foča KP Dom, to the BiH State Court.
Thus, the Appeals Chamber has once again affirmed that the Court of BiH is adequately prepared to try casesrelating to very serious allegations of war crimes and ensure fair trial for the accused.
The Tribunal’s Referral Bench Decision ruled on
In yesterday’s ruling, the Appeals Chamber dismissed all of Todović grounds of appeal and affirmed the decision to refer the case to the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The accused must be transferred and the appropriate evidentiary material handed over to BiH within 30 days.
Rašević and Todović are charged with persecutions, murder, torture, imprisonment and enslavement committed against Bosnian Muslims and other non-Serbs imprisoned in the KP Dom in Foča between April 1992 and October 1994. According to the indictment, Rašević was commander of the KP Dom guards and Todović and Todović was part of KP Domsćs senior management, including as its Deputy Commander from April 1992 to August 1993.
Earlier, the Tribunal has rendered a final judgement against Milorad Krnojelac, KP Dom Commander, and sentenced him to 15 years in prison. He is currently serving his sentence in Italy.
Together with the case against Rašević and Todović, the Tribunal has to date referred five cases involving nine accused to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Prosecution’s motions to refer the cases against
I also have copies of the indictment and the Press Release just issued by the Tribunal concerning the referal of the case. The Appeals Chamber decision is currently available only in English.
Thank you for your attention.
RTQs
Marija Taušan,
A question for Matthias – when will Paško Ljubičić be transferred?
ICTY:
The transfer of Paško Ljubičić has for now, that is until further notice, been delayed. Unfortunately I cannot tell you exactly when he will be transferred, nor can I tell you the reasons for which his transfer has been delayed.
Fedzad Forto, FENA
This is a question for the OSCE since the OSCE is is the coordinator of education reform in BiH. What is your view on the incidents that occurred yesterday, on the first day of school, particularly the incident in Zvornik? How do you comment what happened and the fact that even though for the last three or four years efforts are being made to unify “Two schools under one roof”, they nevertheless continue to exist?
OSCE:
Concerning the schools known as “Two schools under one roof” I can only repeat what we have been saying time and again, for a long time now, and that is that such schools were envisioned as just a temporary measure that would encourage refugees and displaced persons to return to their pre-war homes by enabling their children to attend school in healthier and more appropriate facilities instead of using houses, cafes or tents as schools, which is what those who had returned before this measure was introduced had no choice but to do.
We expected that, over time, the local authorities would do what they are obligated and responsible to do, and that is to provide equal educational opportunities to all citizens, no matter what ethnic group they belong to. The fact that six years later these governing bodies are still doing whatever they can in order to separate students, unedr one roof, according to ethnicity is proof of the continuous failure of the political leaders of this country to act in accordance with the laws they themselves have passed and in accordance with the international obligations which they willingly accepted.
ICTY:
Informaly, I would just like to say that today, here with me is Mr. Armin Marupa who started working for us yesterday. He will temporarily, for several months, be working as an assistant and you will be receiving the press releases from him.