Press Release (96)26 14 Feb 1996

IFOR Assistance to the International Tribunal The North Atlantic Council today reaffirmed its strong support for the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as the Council had decided on 16th December 1995 at the outset of IFOR's operation. IFOR's main contribution is to provide a secure environment, in which other organisations - such as the ICTY - can carry out their mission unimpeded. Our policy remains that IFOR will detain and transfer to the ICTY persons indicted for war crimes by the Tribunal when it comes into contact with such persons in carrying out their duties. The ICTY is providing HQ IFOR with all available information on the persons indicted for war crimes and this information is being distributed to IFOR personnel. IFOR will also provide logistical support to the ICTY case by case on requests to the extent that IFOR's primary duties and available resources permit. As an illustration of such support, NATO responded positively to an ICTY request to assist in the secure transport of two persons detained as suspects and potential witnesses from Sarajevo to The Hague on 12th February for further investigation by the Tribunal. NATO Military Authorities and the ICTY are continuing to refine the arrangements for IFOR's cooperation with the Tribunal. Given the confidentiality of the ICTY's work, IFOR and the Tribunal will not release information on Tribunal requests to IFOR to assist in specific cases. The IFOR commanders will do their utmost within their capabilities to assist the ICTY in its work.