Chief Hague prosecutor says his office is "disappointed"

THE HAGUE Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz says his office is disappointed by the outcome of the appeal ruling in the case against Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac. Last week, The Hague-based UN war crimes court reversed the convictions against the former Croatian generals to acquit both. Chief Hague prosecutor says his office is "disappointed" Brammerz said on Wednesday that "those affected by crime committed in connection with Operation Storm felt that their suffering has not been acknowledged". Brammertz pointed out that as a party to the proceedings, his office has to respect the result of the appeal judgment and that it will, as in all cases, "consider review proceedings if the necessary conditions are met." "My office has carefully studied the Judgment rendered by the Hague Appeals Chamber in the case of Gotovina and Markac on Friday, November 16, 2012. My office is disappointed by the outcome of the Judgment, which reverses the convictions against Mr. Gotovina and Mr. Markac entered unanimously by the three judges of the Trial Chamber," Brammertz said in a statement for the media. He added that his office is aware that "those affected by crimes committed in connection with Operation Storm are not satisfied by the outcome and feel their suffering has not been acknowledged." "Throughout the appeal proceedings, my Office explained to the Appeals Chamber why we believe the evidence was sufficient to support the Trial Chamber's convictions," which sentenced Gotovina to 24 and Markac to 18 years in prison for the crimes committed against Croatia's Serb population in 1995. "In the end, three out of the five Appeals Chamber judges saw it differently, resulting in the acquittal of Gotovina and Markac on all counts of the Indictment." Brammertz also pointed out his office will also make sure that evidence it collected will remain available to judicial authorities in the former Yugoslavia to facilitate national prosecutions for the crimes committed in connection with Operation Storm. "We trust that the judicial authorities in Croatia will live up to their obligations," he added. The Hague chief prosecutor stressed that the dissenting opinions from two of the Appeals Chamber judges - Judge Agius and Judge Pocar - have identified important issues arising out of the Majority's Judgment for the Hague to reflect on. "These issues have also been the focus of attention by commentators external to the Hague in the days following the Judgment. The issues include ensuring coherent standards of appellate review, assessing the evidence on the record in its totality and giving appropriate deference to a trial chamber's factual findings," he said. "Reflection on these matters is important and hopefully, in the end, will be a catalyst for further strengthening the international justice system," Brammertz concluded. (Beta/AP) Tanjug

Chief Hague prosecutor says his office is "disappointed"

Brammerz said on Wednesday that "those affected by crime committed in connection with Operation Storm felt that their suffering has not been acknowledged".

Brammertz pointed out that as a party to the proceedings, his office has to respect the result of the appeal judgment and that it will, as in all cases, "consider review proceedings if the necessary conditions are met."

"My office has carefully studied the Judgment rendered by the Hague Appeals Chamber in the case of Gotovina and Markač on Friday, November 16, 2012. My office is disappointed by the outcome of the Judgment, which reverses the convictions against Mr. Gotovina and Mr. Markač entered unanimously by the three judges of the Trial Chamber," Brammertz said in a statement for the media.

He added that his office is aware that "those affected by crimes committed in connection with Operation Storm are not satisfied by the outcome and feel their suffering has not been acknowledged."

"Throughout the appeal proceedings, my Office explained to the Appeals Chamber why we believe the evidence was sufficient to support the Trial Chamber's convictions," which sentenced Gotovina to 24 and Markač to 18 years in prison for the crimes committed against Croatia's Serb population in 1995.

"In the end, three out of the five Appeals Chamber judges saw it differently, resulting in the acquittal of Gotovina and Markač on all counts of the Indictment."

Brammertz also pointed out his office will also make sure that evidence it collected will remain available to judicial authorities in the former Yugoslavia to facilitate national prosecutions for the crimes committed in connection with Operation Storm.

"We trust that the judicial authorities in Croatia will live up to their obligations," he added.

The Hague chief prosecutor stressed that the dissenting opinions from two of the Appeals Chamber judges - Judge Agius and Judge Pocar - have identified important issues arising out of the Majority's Judgment for the Hague to reflect on.

"These issues have also been the focus of attention by commentators external to the Hague in the days following the Judgment. The issues include ensuring coherent standards of appellate review, assessing the evidence on the record in its totality and giving appropriate deference to a trial chamber's factual findings," he said.

"Reflection on these matters is important and hopefully, in the end, will be a catalyst for further strengthening the international justice system," Brammertz concluded.