SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 2,2007) – David Schwendiman, international prosecutor with the Special Section for War Crimes of the Bosnian State Prosecutor’s Office, took over as Chief Prosecutor and Head of this Section.
At a press conference in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, Schwendiman told those responsible for war crimes that they will not be able to hide.
“You cannot prevent us from finding you or to tirelessly work on brining you to justice for what you have done. You will not escape us”, he said.
Schwendiman warned that there is no place for unhealthy competition between international organisations that have shown that they wish to control events in the Special Section for War Crimes.
Schwendiman told all those who think that they can influence the independence of the Special Section for War Crimes of the Bosnian State Prosecutor’s Office, or its decisions by public pressure and media campaigns, that they are “wasting both their and our time”.
He especially called on organisations, associations, and representatives of the families of victims to deliver information to the Bosnian State Prosecutor’s Office and allow it access to material in their possession, but stressed that they will not be allowed to dictate who decisions are made in the Special Section for War Crimes.
"We shall extend a hand to people affected by war and explain to the best of our ability what we are doing and what we intend to do, but we shall not back away from our impartiality and independence," Schwendiman said.
His deputy reminded of the results achieved by this Section so far. In less than two-and-a-half years it has filed more than 40 indictments against 69 persons, while there are currently 312 active investigations against 894 persons.
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