Mon, Feb 28, 2005 - Page 7 News List

Hague war crimes tribunal issues final charges

JUSTICE The court has indicted eight suspected war criminals from the former Yugoslavia as it winds up its work, but two of the most wanted men are still free

AFP , THE HAGUE

Despite the last of the indictments being issued, Del Ponte's spokeswoman Florence Hartmann says the work of the tribunal here is only the start of a process of justice and reconciliation.

"Given the scope of the crimes, the victims' need for justice will not be satisfied by the less than 200 indictments issued by the tribunal," she said, stressing the importance of trials in local courts in the Balkan states expected to begin this year. Truth and reconciliation commissions will also play a role.

"The ICTY is one of the factors that will eventually help to seal reconciliation," she said.

The Hague court aims to close its doors by 2010, but with some 50 suspects still awaiting trial it will have to transfer several cases to local courts in the Balkans if it is to meet that target.

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