OHR

OHR Seeks Progress in Higher Education Law Before New Academic
Year

The OHR notes the agreement between the Republika Srpska
Council of Peoples and the Republika Srpska National Assembly to adopt the RS
Higher Education Law. Republika Srpska, its Government and its students have
recognised the importance of the

Bologna

process, the benefits it
brings to students, and its potential to improve employment and economic
opportunities.

Despite adoption of the RS Law, there is still no State-level BiH Law. A
first step is the adoption of State level-legislation. The BiH Ministry of Civil
Affairs has prepared a draft Higher Education Law that meets BiH’s commitment to
the Bologna Process. The Constitutional and Legal Commission of the BiH House of
Representatives are discussing it on Thursday 24 August. This means that it too
could be adopted before the start of the new university year.

The draft State-level Higher Education Law would standardise the quality of
diplomas across the country and ensure their recognition elsewhere in

Europe and beyond. It would also provide greater student
mobility and contribute to greater economic growth for the entire country.

The OHR looks to BiH’s Parliamentarians and students to use the current
momentum in advance of the new university year to ensure this legislation moves
forward.

After the State-level Law is passed, Entity and Cantonal legislation would
need to be harmonised with it.

The Bologna Process is an inter-governmental initiative that aims to create a
European Higher Education Area by 2010. Forty-four countries have already signed
up to this process.

The Bologna Declaration establishes what is necessary to create a European
Higher Education Area by 2010. It aims to establish a number of common features
in education systems of the various States, such as a common degree structure
and a system of grades that is comprehensible outside their borders. The result
would be greater student mobility across
Europe and
common structures of higher education systems across

Europe. It does not seek to create a system that
eradicates national characteristics.

High Representative to Visit Temporary SIPA HQ

The need for effective State-level Law enforcement and security is clear if
BiH is to investigate war crimes and other crime effectively. For this reason,
BiH’s institutions must therefore ensure that SIPA – the State Investigation and
Protection Agency – receives the support it requires.

The High Representative is committed to a fully functioning SIPA and it is in
this context that he will be visiting the SIPA Headquarters tomorrow. SIPA is
still housed in temporary facilities that physically limit SIPA’s growth from
the present 900 employees to a full strength of 1,600 operatives.

BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak and the EUMP Commander Vincenzo Coppola
will tomorrow accompany the High Representative.

Journalists will be able to film the High Representative’s arrival at 13.00
tomorrow. The High Representative will address media at 13.35. SIPA will be
issuing details of the press opportunities for this visit today.

ICTY

Good morning on behalf of the Tribunal. As you have seen, the Popović et al
‘Srebenica trial’ commenced yesterday with the prosecution opening statement.

After the Trial Chamber seven days ago granted the request to separate the
case against Zdravko Tolimir, who is still at large, the trial is currently
conducted against the following seven accused:

Vinko Pandurević, Drago Nikolić, Ljubiša Beara, Vujadin Popović and Ljubomir
Borovčanin who are charged with genocide against the Muslim population in
Srebrenica in July 1995,  extermination and killing of thousands of Bosnian
Muslim men and boys from the Srebrenica enclave and for the persecution and
forcible transfer of Muslim population from the Srebrenica and Žepa enclaves.

Radivoje Miletić and Milan Gvero are charged with persecution and forcible
transfer of the Muslim population from the Srebrenica and Žepa enclaves and
killing of Bosnian Muslim men and boys from the Srebrenica enclave.

Let me briefly summarise what the indictment alleges against each accused.

Vinko Pandurević

According to the indictment, VinkoPandurević was a Lt. Colonel in command of
the Zvornik Brigade of the VRS and he issued orders to forces participating in
the attack on the Srebrenica and Žepa enclaves. It is also alleged that he
personally authorised the detention, summary execution and burial of thousands
of Bosnian Muslim men held in schools in Ročević, Kula, and the Pilica Cultural
Centre, and that he assisted in many other executions.

Drago Nikolić

According to the indictment, DragoNikolić was Chief of Security of the
Zvornik Brigade and was responsible for managing the brigade’s Military Police
Company. It is alleged that Nikolić assisted in the transportation and
organising of Muslim men to detention areas in the Zvornik area and oversaw and
supervised their summary execution. Nikolić is also charged with assisting in
the operation to re-burry bodies of victims.

Ljubiša Beara

According to the indictment, Ljubiša Beara – Chief of the VRS Main Staff
Security Organ – organised the detention, transportation and execution of Muslim
men along the Konjević Polje – Milići – Srebrenica road on

13 July 1995 , assisted in the transportation of
Muslim men to detention centres in the Zvornik area, and oversaw and supervised
their summary execution.

According to the indictment, Beara also participated in the operation to
capture Muslim men fleeing from the Žepa enclave over the
Drina
River to
Serbia.

Vujadin Popović

According to the indictment, VujadinPopović was the Assistant Commander of
Security on the staff of the Drina Corps and was, inter alia, responsible
for managing the units of the Drina Corps Military Police. It is alleged that
Popović was present on duty in Potočari overseeing the transportation of Muslims
to areas outside of the RS; he assisted in the transportation and organisation
of Muslim men from Bratunac to detention areas in Zvornik and oversaw and
supervised their summary execution.

Ljubomir Borovčanin

According to the indictment, on

10 July 1995 , LjubomirBorovčanin was appointed Commander of a joint
force of MUP units. The indictment further alleges that Borovčanin was present
in Potočari commanding MUP troops in the separation of Muslim men from their
families with full knowledge that those men would be summarily executed.

Borovčanin is also charged with planning and organising the detention and
transfer of Muslim men along the Konjević Polje – Milići road and that the same
day he was personally present at the Kravica warehouse when hundreds of Muslim
prisoners were summarily executed.

Radivoje Miletić

According to the indictment, Radivoje Miletić was Chief of Operations and
Training and was standing in for the Chief of Staff of the Main Staff of the
VRS. It is alleged that Miletić took part in and helped implemented the policy
to restrict humanitarian aid to the Muslim populations of Srebrenica and Žepa.

It is further alleged that Miletić monitored the transfer of civilians from
the enclaves and the removal of remaining Muslims from Zepa.

Milan Gvero

According to the indictment, Milan Gvero was the Assistant Commander for
Morale, Legal and Religious Affairs of the Main Staff of the VRS and reported
directly to General Mladić.

The indictment alleges that Gvero contributed to the operation of forcible
transfer and deportation of the Bosnian Muslim population by releasing to the
public media false statements, by lying to UNPROFOR and to international
representatives.

A few additional notes about the future conduct of the case.

Following the opening statement by the prosecution, each accused’s defence
counsel will have an opportunity to present an opening statement, or may choose
to do that later in the course of the proceedings, after the prosecution closes
its case. The presentation of evidence will begin with the presentation of the
prosecution case, then the defence will present their case, and finally the
Trial Chamber may call additional witnesses if necessary. Each witness is first
examined by the party calling the witness and then the witness may be
cross-examined by the other party. I have prepared for you copies of the Trial
Chamber order of
14 July 2006 concerning guidelines on the presentation of evidence and the
conduct of parties during trial proceedings.

I have also brought with me copies of yesterday’s press release concerning
the Tribunal’s decision to assign Vojislav Seselj defence counsel and copies of
the decision itself.

I also have copies of yesterday’s opening statement by Carla Del Ponte.

Thank you for your attention.

EUFOR

No statement.

RTQs:

Dragomir Simović, SRNA:

Does the OHR find the fact that Republica Srpska adopted the Law on Higher
Education first, problematic? I do not see what the problem could be, except of
course that now the state is running late in that regard.

Oleg Milišić, OHR:

First of all, I made no comments regarding who adopted the Law on Higher
Education first, and I do not intend to do so. However, as you we mentioned in
our statement today, it is now important that steps be made towards the adoption
of State-level legislation and the OHR feels that there is till time for this to
be done before the start of the new academic year.