IRMCT Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz Attends Annual Regional War Crimes Prosecutors Conference

Mr. Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), participated in the annual conference of war crimes prosecutors from the Western Balkans, held this year in Brijuni, Croatia, from 2 to 4 September. The conference was organized by UNDP with the support of the European Union and the United Kingdom.

In his remarks and interventions, Prosecutor Brammertz emphasized the need to continue strengthening regional war crimes cooperation, noting that despite progress in some areas, there remain significant challenges that are hindering the accountability process. Improved cooperation will be particularly important in relation to addressing the issue of unavailable suspects and accused, notably the hundreds of such persons identified by prosecutors in Bosnia and Herzegovina who currently reside in Croatia or Serbia.

Prosecutor Brammertz further highlighted the OTP's ongoing support to national prosecutors in response to their requests for assistance. In recent years, the OTP has received the most requests in the Mechanism's history, which are also increasingly complex. The OTP is providing access to evidence, as well as offering legal, investigative, prosecutorial and strategic assistance. At their request, the OTP has established joint teams with national prosecutors from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, which are achieving important results.

Prosecutor Brammertz took the opportunity to have bilateral meetings with the Croatian Ministry of Justice and the State Attorney's Office, the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro's Supreme and Special State Prosecution Offices. He also met with members of the diplomatic community.