RUSSIA SEES PERFORMANCE OF ITFY AS UNSATISFACTORY

UNITED NATIONS, June 5 (Itar-Tass) - Russia sees as unsatisfactory the state of affairs in the International Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia, Russian ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said.

He spoke at an open meeting of the UN Security Council in Wednesday, at which reports on work of the International Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia (ITFY) and the International Tribunal on Rwanda were reviewed.

The Russian diplomat said there was no "clear information" on thetransfer of cases opened by the ITFY to national courts.

"Of note is the factual information spread by the Serbian side about cooperation with the tribunal that makes one doubt objectivity of several sections of the ITFY report," Churkin said,It can be stated that the ITFY has been unable to complete its work in time, he said.

Churkin cited the acquitting ruling on the case of one of leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, former prime minister of the province of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj.

"Judges cited a lack of proof of his guilt on any of tens of charges, simultaneously making a statement about unprecedented pressure on witnesses in this case".

"For the first time in the history of international justice witnesses in this case were subjected to open blackmail and intimidation, and often they were physically eliminated," Churkin said.

These actions were made in a "atmosphere of complete impunity despite the international presences in Kosovo".

Russia has repeatedly drew attention of the UN Security Council to"this inadmissible situation and demanded its resolute reaction for the investigation of deaths of people and securing a more effective regime of protection of witnesses in Kosovo," Churklin said.

"The case of Haradinaj has been another black spot on the reputation of the ITFY," he said.