Judge Meron has harmed the Hague Tribunal’s public standing
By virtue of its very establishment by the UN Security Council, the Hague Tribunal became a legal fact. Despite opposition from “patriotic forces”, the Republic of Serbia has been cooperating with the Hague Tribunal’s Prosecution, both by handing over (some of the) documents demanded by the court, and by extraditing indicted fugitives and providing security for the witnesses. The acquittals of Gotovina, Mrkač and Haradinaj will not put an end to the cooperation between Serbia’s state authorities and the Hague Tribunal, despite “patriotic” demands.
On Monday December 10th, 2012, namely the International Human Rights Day, the diplomas were awarded to the second generation of the Transitional Justice School students.
The Hague Tribunal’s recent acquittals of KLA wartime commander Ramush Haradinaj and Croatian generals Mladen Mrkač and Ante Gotovina have put the issue of responsibility towards the victims of the Yugoslav wars back on the agenda. Also being tested is the ability of the relevant states to provide adequate proof in support of the charges, rather than to express indignation after the fact.