Pula, 15 June 2012
Frederick Swinnen, Special Advisor to ICTY Prosecutor Serge Brammertz, today delivered a presentation to students and professors of history at the University of Pula, Croatia.
The presentation covered the main achievements of the ICTY over the past two decades, with a particular emphasis on the challenges of maintaining relations with the countries of the former Yugoslavia. Mr Swinnen highlighted the efforts of the Office of the Prosecutor in ensuring Serbian authorities’ cooperation and arresting the last remaining fugitives: Radovan Karadžić, Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić.
The audience was impressed to learn of the rapid expansion of international justice in the period since the ICTY was established in 1993. There followed a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the International Criminal Court, and speculation about the possibilities for truly universal, trans-national criminal justice.
The professors in attendance were very happy with the event, and invited the ICTY to return next autumn. Assistant professor Mihovil Dabo said: “The presentation delivered a fresh perspective on the inner workings of the Tribunal, and proved informative not only for students but for myself. From a historical perspective, it is impressive what the ICTY has achieved in only 20 years.”