Yugoslavia Tribunal begins work simultaneously on three trials

In The Hague today, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), for the first time in its history, began work simultaneously on three trials.

According to the Tribunal, two Bosnian Croats and five Bosnian Serbs are tried in the three separate cases. The holding of three simultaneous trials is the result, among other factors, of the appointment of six new "ad litem" (or short-term) judges, who took their declarations to serve the Tribunal last Thursday. The new trials reduce to 15 the number of accused who are awaiting trial.

Judge Claude Jorda, President of the International Tribunal, recently called the appointment of the "ad litem" judges "a significant turning point, enabling the Trial Chambers to double their judgement capacity to six simultaneous trials by the end of January 2002."