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Press Release . Communiqué de presse
(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)
The Hague, 10 June 2004
CVO/P.I.S./857-e
RESTRICTIONS ON VOJISLAV SESELJ’S COMMUNICATION PRIVILEGES EXTENDED FROM 13 JUNE TO 1 JULY 2004
Please find below the full text of a decision issued by the Deputy Registrar, David Tolbert, on 9 June 2004, concerning the communication privileges of Mr. Vojislav Seselj.
"DECISION
THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR,
NOTING the decision of 7 May 2004 (the "Decision") concerning the communication privileges of Mr. Vojislav Seselj (the "Accused") at the United Nations Detention Unit (the "Detention Unit") and previous decisions on the matter therein referred to, wherein, for a further period between 10 May 2004 until 13 June 2004, it was decided to "[p]rohibit, unless otherwise authorised
by the Commanding Officer of the Detention Unit, all communication between the Accused with person(s) except for his legal counsel (if applicable) and diplomatic or consular representatives and his immediate family, provided that his contact with his family shall be subject to live monitoring under conditions prescribed by the Commanding Officer of the Detention Unit";
NOTING the Serbian presidential elections which will be held on 13 June 2004 with a possible second round of voting on 27 June 2004;
CONSIDERING, PARTICULARLY that there is a strong likelihood that the political party and the supporters of the Accused will seek his further involvement in political activities associated with the forthcoming Serbian presidential elections until the anticipated second round of elections, for example, by issuing a letter of support to his political party and its
supporters;
CONSIDERING that the Accused has previously made statements, using the facilities at the Detention Unit, in violation of the decisions concerning his communication privileges;
CONSIDERING that the Accused’s defiant disposition vis-à-vis the Decision and previous decisions concerning his communication privileges is unchanged and remains of concern;
CONSIDERING that widespread media attention and coverage of the fact that the Accused is facilitating with ease, an ongoing Serbian presidential campaign undermines the Tribunal’s mandate to assist in the restoration and maintenance of peace;
CONSIDERING that the balance between the rights and entitlements to communication or visits of the Accused with that of the Tribunal to effectively perform its mandate and
functions, must be assessed in view of the forthcoming Serbian presidential elections and the disposition of the Accused;
CONSIDERING THEREFORE that the particular circumstances in this case continue to necessitate the imposition of measures to avoid potentially deleterious media coverage resulting from unrestricted communication entitlements and visits;
DECIDES pursuant to Rules 60 and 63 of the Rules of Detention, for a further period, from 13 June 2004 until 1 July 2004, which decision shall then be reviewed, to:
Prohibit, unless otherwise authorised by the Commanding Officer of the Detention Unit, all communication between the Accused with person(s) except for his legal counsel (if applicable), diplomatic or consular representatives and his immediate family, provided that his contact with his family shall be subject to live monitoring under conditions prescribed by the Commanding Officer
of the Detention Unit;
The current practice in relation to written communications shall be maintained and the Detention Unit’s regulations concerning the import and export of mail shall be adhered to."
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