TRIAL CHAMBER I of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 (hereinafter "the Tribunal");

NOTING the Defence Motion for the Adjournment of the Trial Session dated 9 January 2001 (hereinafter "the Motion");

PURSUANT to Article 21 of the Statute and Rules 54 and 73 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence (hereinafter "the Rules");

CONSIDERING that in its Scheduling Order dated 14 December 2000 the Trial Chamber ordered that the trial would resume on 15 January 2001;

CONSIDERING that the Defence refers to the deterioration of the medical condition of the accused in order to request the adjournment of the trial until further notice;

CONSIDERING that the accused was examined by the physicians proposed by the Defence on 11 January 2001; that a report was submitted on 12 January 2001;

CONSIDERING that the report notes that the accused is in pain and advises that he undergo an operation as soon as possible and concludes that the medical condition of the accused is incompatible with his attendance at the hearings;

CONSIDERING therefore that there is a valid reason to adjourn the trial:

CONSIDERING however that the trial must continue as soon as the general health of the accused so permits; 

FOR THE FOREGOING REASONS,

GRANTS the Defence Motion and ADJOURNS the trial;

INVITES the Registry to have the necessary medical examinations carried out and take all appropriate measures permitting the trial to continue;

ORDERS that a medical report on the physical or mental health of the accused be submitted to it regularly and at least every seven days from the date of this Decision.

Done this fifteenth day of January 2001
At The Hague
The Netherlands

Done in French and English, the French version being authoritative.

/signed/
Judge Almiro Rodrigues
President of Trial Chamber I