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“CLOSE LINKS” BETWEEN POLITICS AND MILITARY
At the trial of Momcilo Krajisnik, prosecution military expert testifies about the close links between political goals and military actions carried out by the VRS in 1992
Ewan Brown, witness in the Krajisnik trial
“Bosnian Serb political leadership led the military on the ground and there was no difference between broader political goals and what the military did on the ground," prosecution military expert Ewan Brown concluded at the trial of Momcilo Krajisnik. In his testimony, he referred to RS Army documents.
Military documents state that the strategic goals adopted by the Bosnian Serb political leadership in May 1992 were "general guideline for battle planning", Brown notes, adding that most of the goals have been achieved. Examples he noted were the blockade of Sarajevo, holding the corridor in northeastern Bosnia, establishing the border on the Una river and others. However, the witness adds, "the Herzegovina Corps could not reach the Neretva river despite the fact that Karadzic had proclaimed that as one of strategic goals."
Through Brown's testimony, the prosecution is trying to prove that the political leadership, including Krajisnik, gave instructions to the military but also that it was well informed about the developments on the ground. The witness notes several intercepted telephone conversations in which Krajisnik demands reports about the military situation from local commanders. He also referred to a conversation in which VRS commander Ratko Mladic tells Krajisnik that he will "proceed according to plan" and that he will come to see Krajisnik the next day "to see the new instructions."