UNITED NATIONS International Tribunal for the Case No. IT-05-87-T Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Date: 26 February 2009 Committed in the Territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991 Original: English IN THE TRIAL CHAMBER Before: Judge Iain Bonomy, Presiding Judge Ali Nawaz Chowhan Judge Tsvetana Kamenova Judge Janet Nosworthy, Reserve Judge Acting Registrar: Mr. John Hocking Judgement of: 26 FEBRUARY 2009 PROSECUTOR v. MILAN MILUTINOVIĆ NIKOLA ŠAINOVIĆ DRAGOLJUB OJDANIĆ NEBOJŠA PAVKOVIĆ VLADIMIR LAZAREVIĆ SRETEN LUKIĆ PUBLIC JUDGEMENT Volume 3 of 4 The Office of the Prosecutor: Mr. Thomas Hannis Mr. Chester Stamp Counsel for the Accused: Mr. Eugene O’Sullivan and Mr. Slobodan Zečević for Mr. Milan Milutinović Mr. Toma Fila and Mr. Vladimir Petrović for Mr. Nikola Šainović Mr. Tomislav Višnjić and Mr. Norman Sepenuk for Mr. Dragoljub Ojdanić Mr. John Ackerman and Mr. Aleksandar Aleksić for Mr. Nebojša Pavković Mr. Mihajlo Bakrač and Mr. Đuro Čepić for Mr. Vladimir Lazarević Mr. Branko Lukić and Mr. Dragan Ivetić for Mr. Sreten Lukić VIII. INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY ........................................................................ 7 A. CHARGED FORMS OF RESPONSIBILITY ................................................................................................. 7 B. COMMITTING THROUGH JOINT CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE ......................................................................... 7 1. Charges in Indictment relating to joint criminal enterprise........................................................... 7 2. Procedural history of joint criminal enterprise in this case ........................................................... 9 3. Physical elements ........................................................................................................................ 12 a. Common plan, design, or purpose—Second element........................................................... 12 i. Pattern of crimes in spring of 1999 ...................................................................................... 13 (A) Demographic evidence ................................................................................................. 13 (B) Seizure of identity documents....................................................................................... 17 (C) Discernible pattern of forcible displacement................................................................ 21 ii. Context of events in 1998 and 1999.................................................................................... 23 iii. Arming of non-Albanians and disarming of Kosovo Albanians........................................ 24 (A) Process of arming of the non-Albanian population ...................................................... 25 (B) Legality of arming of the non-Albanian population ..................................................... 26 (C) Arming and disarming of the population on ethnic grounds ........................................ 27 (D) Discriminatory arming and disarming.......................................................................... 33 iv. Breaches of October Agreements and diplomatic efforts .................................................. 34 v. Positioning of high-level officials ....................................................................................... 35 vi. Obstruction of justice ......................................................................................................... 38 vii. Findings............................................................................................................................. 39 b. Plurality of persons—First element...................................................................................... 42 c. Significant contribution—Third element.............................................................................. 42 C. INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY OF MILAN MILUTINOVIĆ ..................................................... 42 1. Charges in Indictment.................................................................................................................. 42 2. Milutinović’s position as the President of Serbia........................................................................ 44 a. Milutinović authority over the armed forces ........................................................................ 45 i. Milutinović’s de jure powers................................................................................................ 45 ii. Milutinović as a member of the Supreme Defence Council ............................................... 45 iii. Milutinović as a member of the Supreme Command in wartime ...................................... 54 iv. Milutinović and miscellaneous meetings ........................................................................... 55 b. Milutinović’s relationship with the Serbian Government .................................................... 60 i. Jashari incident in March 1998 ............................................................................................ 61 ii. Holbrooke-Milošević Agreement........................................................................................ 62 iii. Milutinović’s power to promote MUP officials................................................................. 63 iv. Other dealings with the Government ................................................................................. 63 v. Conclusion........................................................................................................................... 65 c. Milutinović’s power to issue decrees ................................................................................... 66 d. Milutinović as a negotiator with the Kosovo Albanians ...................................................... 71 e. Milutinović as a negotiator with the international community............................................. 78 f. Milutinović in Rambouillet and Paris................................................................................... 83 g. Milutinović’s dealings with Rugova..................................................................................... 88 3. Milutinović’s position as a member of the SPS........................................................................... 92 4. Milutinović’s relationship and dealings with the FRY President Milošević............................... 94 5. Milutinović’s state of mind in relation to Kosovo and Kosovo Albanians ................................. 97 6. Milutinović’s knowledge of events in Kosovo.......................................................................... 100 7. Conclusions on responsibility of Milan Milutinović under Article 7(1) of the Statute............. 109 a. Commission through participation in a joint criminal enterprise ....................................... 109 b. Planning/Instigating/Ordering ............................................................................................ 111 c. Aiding and abetting ............................................................................................................ 113 8. Conclusions on responsibility of Milan Milutinović under Article 7(3) of the Statute............. 113 Case No. IT-05-87-T 2 26 February 2009 9. Conclusion................................................................................................................................. 114 D. INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY OF NIKOLA ŠAINOVIĆ ....................................................... 115 1. The Accused .............................................................................................................................. 115 2. Charges in Indictment................................................................................................................ 115 3. Šainović’s powers...................................................................................................................... 116 a. Šainović as Milošević’s representative in Kosovo ............................................................. 116 b. Šainović’s authority over the VJ and the MUP .................................................................. 120 i. Šainović’s authority over VJ and MUP in 1998 ................................................................ 121 (A) Joint Command meetings ........................................................................................... 123 (B) Other meetings............................................................................................................ 133 ii. Šainović’s authority over VJ and MUP in 1999 ............................................................... 134 c. Šainović’s dealings with KVM and obstruction of October Agreements .......................... 145 i. Obstruction of October Agreements .................................................................................. 145 ii. Šainović as Chairman of the Commission for Co-operation with the KVM .................... 148 iii. Examples of Šainović’s authority as Chairman of the Commission for Co-operation .... 155 iv. Conclusion........................................................................................................................ 159 d. Šainović at Rambouillet...................................................................................................... 160 e. Šainović’s dealings with Rugova ....................................................................................... 163