Hague Ready To Hand First War Crime Case To Serbia

1 November 2004 -- The chief prosecutor for the UN war crimes tribunal has, for the first time, asked the court in The Hague to transfer one of its cases to judicial authorities in Serbia and Montenegro.

Prosecutor Carla del Ponte asked to transfer the case of a former Yugoslav Army officer facing charges linked to the 1991 Serbian shelling of Dubrovnik.

Vladimir Kovacevic is charged with six counts of violating the laws or customs of war, including murder and cruel treatment, during the shelling of the Croatian town.

Del Ponte said today that she is confident the Belgrade District Court and its judges are capable of handling the case according to internationally recognized standards of justice.

(Reuters/Hina)