2. Public opinion in Serbia Attitudes towards ICTY SMMRI August 2004 Belgrade Centre for Human Rights

3. Belrade Center for Human Right Methodology Realization: Field work from 26-30 August, 2004 Target population: 18+ / Serbia (without Kosmet) Sample size: 1245 respondents Sample type: Three-staged random representative stratified sample Sample-phases: –First-stage unit: polling stations (PPS) –Second-stage unit: Households (SRSWoR – random walk) –Third-stage unit: Respondents within households (SRSWoR – Kish tables) Survey type: Field survey, face-to-face Sub stratification: By gender, age and region Error: Level of credibility 95%, marginal error for answer incidence 50%, +/-3% ( +/-1% for answer incidence of 5%)

4. Belrade Center for Human Right Methodology This is the second survey in one-year interval, which enabled us to follow the changes in level of familiarity with and attitudes of citizens of Serbia to ICTY. In the part dealing with familiarity and attitude of citizens to events related to wars on former Yugoslavia territory in the last decade of 20 th century, in order to monitor the changes, we used the results of Serbia public opinion survey “Truth, responsibility and reconciliation” conducted by Strategic Marketing for B92 in May 2001.

5. Belrade Center for Human Right Contents Political environment How informed are the citizens about ICTY activities and domestic judiciary for war crimes Truth and responsibility: Familiarity with and attitudes to events related to wars on former Yugoslavia territory in the last decade of 20 th century Attitude to ICTY: attitude to cooperation, confidence and perception of ICTY mission Attitude to domestic judiciary for war crimes Facing the truth and the role of ICTY and domestic judiciary in accepting it

6. Belrade Center for Human Right Political environment

7. Belrade Center for Human Right Political environment  After Zoran Djindjic assassination, Serbian Radical Party, the biggest representative of anti-Hague policy, has been on the steady increase; after December 2003 election, this party had the largest number of seats in the new Republic Parliament.  New minority government was formed with SPS support, another representative of anti-Hague policy.  One of the first laws passed by the new parliament was the Law on financial support for those indicted by the Tribunal.  After the victory of the democratic candidate in presidential election, this party gained equal strength as SRS and these two parties, at the time of survey, dominate the political stage.

8. Belrade Center for Human Right Political environment Political environment  Citizens are still preoccupied with economic problems, low personal standard and the fear of unemployment.  Among five most important problems facing Serbia (personal standard and new job opportunities; crime and corruption; protection of national interests and interests of Serbs in Kosovo, BiH and Croatia; EU integrations and attraction of investments), cooperation with ICTY has the last position.  Generally negative opinion on government actions on all mentioned problems is somewhat better when it comes to cooperation with ICTY. SPS is particularly satisfied with the way the government is addressing this issue.

9. Belrade Center for Human Right Political environment:Where is Serbia headed... Political environment: Where is Serbia headed... The main indicator of overall situation, which is, by rule, parallel to confidence in authorities, after dramatic pessimism following Parliamentary election, then again after minority government was formed, shows increasing optimism after the democratic candidate was elected President of Serbia in June.

10. Belrade Center for Human Right Political environment Support for political parties Political environment : Support for political parties SRS and DS are the two dominant parties on the political stage. After Zoran Djindjic assassination, SRS has been on the steady increase and won the biggest number of seats in the new Parliament. DS has had strong increasing trends during and after presidential election. New party PSS, with Bogoljub Karic as its leader, is also experiencing an increase. Party they would vote for if elections were held this Sunday

11. Belrade Center for Human Right Political environment Political environment :Most important problems Serbia is faced with Only 10% of citizens selected the issue of cooperation with ICTY as one of the three most important problems that Serbia has on the given list, and only 2.4% stated that cooperation with ICTY was the most important problem that Serbia is facing at the moment. Which of the given problems is most important for Serbia? % of citizens who chose the following problems as the first three most important

12. Belrade Center for Human Right Political environment Political environment : How well is the government addressing certain problems Citizens are generally very dissatisfied with government activities, but cooperation with ICTY is still assessed as slightly better than activities in the other fields.

13. Belrade Center for Human Right Political environment Political environment : How well is the government addressing certain problems - cooperation with ICTY SPS approves of Government activities in cooperation with ICTY more (22%) than total population average(13%) % of citizens who assessed Government activities in cooperation with ICTY positively

14. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with ICTY activities and domestic courts for war crimes

15. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with ICTY activities and domestic courts for war crimes Majority of citizens are not familiar either with ICTY institution as such, or domestic courts for war crimes, nor do they follow trials for war crimes, either in ICTY or in domestic courts  Majority of citizens, according to their own statement, is not familiar with ICTY institution (64%) and they do not follow trials for war crimes in the Hague (69%).  In comparison to previous year, the number of citizens who claim that they are familiar with ICTY institution has increased (from 6% to 15%), but the same is not true of the number of citizens who follow the Hague trials. The trials are still followed only by every tenth citizen.  Fewer than every fifth citizen states that in the past year he had changed his opinion on the activities of ICTY, mostly in the negative direction.  Most citizens (58%) are informed that there are special judicial institutions in Serbia dealing with war crimes, but most did not know which institutions these were.  Most citizens, according to their own statement, are neither familiar with the activities of domestic war crime prosecution institution (72% not at all, 24% a little), nor do they follow the trials in domestic courts (89%).  Most citizens think that the public should be much better informed about the activities of domestic courts for war crimes (64%), and only every fifth citizen thinks that the media offer enough information for those who want to be informed.

16. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with ICTY activities Familiarity with ICTY activities Although most citizens asses their own familiarity with ICTY institution as very small or rather small, this percentage has decreased in comparison to last year for 7%, and the percentage of citizens who claim that they are very familiar has increased from 6% to 15%. To what extent are you personally familiar with the ICTY institution itself? 68%68%57% 15%6%

17. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with ICTY activities Familiarity with ICTY activities The youngest segment (18-29) is the least familiar with ICTY institution, as well as women and citizens with lower education. To what extent are you personally familiar with the ICTY institution itself?

18. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with ICTY activities Familiarity with ICTY activities Most citizens do not follow the trials in The Hague (62%), every tenth citizen follows the trials most of the time. However, the percentage of citizens who at least occasionally follow the trials has increased in comparison to previous year, from 20% to 28%. To what extent do you follow the trials in the Hague? 69% 62% 10% 11%

19. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with ICTY activities Familiarity with ICTY activities The youngest segment (18-29), women and citizens with lower education are the ones who follow the ICTY trials the least. To what extent do you follow the trials in the Hague ?

20. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with ICTY activities:The effect of following the trials on the change in attitude Smaller percentage of citizens (less than one fifth) change their opinion on ICTY based on what they see in the trials. If their opinion changes, it is changes in the negative direction. In comparison to previous year, even larger percentage of citizens have changed their attitude to ICTY in the negative sense. (2003) Has any testimony in ICTY made you change your opinion on ICTY? (2004) Has anything in relation to ICTY trials affected your opinion about the Tribunal? Has your opinion changed-in a positive or negative direction? Answers by citizens who said the trials had made them change their opinion on ICTY 9% of population 4% of population 18% of population 0.6% of population

21. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with ICTY activities – Events that influenced a change of opinion Familiarity with ICTY activities – Events that influenced a change of opinion Citizens stated much more often overall impressions that the trial of indicted Serbs was biased, than they were able to state clearly which concrete events had influenced a change of their opinion. 4% populacije 0.6% populacije Which event in the last year had influenced a change of your opinion on ICTY? Most frequent answers by 19% of citizens who stated that an event related to the trial had influenced a change of their opinion on ICTY.

22. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with activities of domestic courts for war crimes More than half citizens said that they knew there were special judicial institutions for war crime trials in Serbia, but majority did not know which particularly institutions they were. 3 Do you know that there are special judicial institutions for war crime trials in Serbia? Which institutions are you familiar with? Answers by 58% of citizens who stated that they knew there were special judicial institutions for war crime trials in Serbia? In total, 36% of citizens were able to state judicial institutions for war crime trials, but could not exactly name them.

23. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with activities of domestic courts for war crimes Familiarity with activities of domestic courts for war crimes Only 4% of the population claimed they were familiar with activities of domestic Prosecutor’s office for war crimes, and additional one quarter claimed that they knew a little about it, while the majority of 72% know nothing about it. The least informed are the youngest citizens (18 to 29), women and the segment with the lowest education. Are you familiar with activities of Republic of Serbia Prosecutor’s Office for war crimes?

24. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with activities of domestic courts for war crimes Familiarity with activities of domestic courts for war crimes 89% of citizens do not follow at all, or very rarely follow war crime trials in domestic courts. Out of the remaining 24%, only 10% was able to state which war crime trial it was, 6% stated Djindjic and Stambolic murder trials instead of war crime trials, and 8% do not know which crimes these were. To what extent do you follow war crime trials in domestic courts? 89% Which trials are these? Answers by 24% of citizens who follow the trials at least very rarely 24 % 8% of population 6% of population 10% of population

25. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity with activities of domestic courts for war crimes Familiarity with activities of domestic courts for war crimes More than half of those who at least occasionally follow the trials for war crimes in domestic courts, give negative assessment of the present course of trials. Most citizens think that the public should be much better informed on the course of war crime trials in domestic courts Assessment of present course of war crime trials in domestic courts? Assessment by 24% of population who follow the trials 53% 16 % Should the public be more informed about the course of trials for war crimes in domestic courts?

26. Belrade Center for Human Right Truth and responsibility: Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY in the last decade of the 20 th century

27. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory, 1992-1995 Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory, 1992-1995 Familiarity with events related to wars on the territory of former SFRY 1992-1995 is very selective, and attitude to these events is extremely biased, depending on who was the culprit and who the victim of the given event. A significantly larger percentage of citizens are familiar with events and believe them to be true if the victims were Serbs and the culprits belonged to a different ethnic group. These events are described as war crimes.  85% of citizens have heard that the Croats killed a lot of civilians during operations “Storm” and “Flash”, 82% believe that the events were true and 75% believe that this is war crime, but only slightly more than half of the population have heard that the paramilitary troops and Yugoslav Army killed civilians in Vukovar, 24% believe that this really happened, and only 18% of citizens believe that these were true events and consider them to be war crimes.  71% have heard that the Moslems kept Serbs in prison camps in BiH, 66% believe this to be true, 53% think that this was war crime, but only half of the population have heard that Sarajevo was under siege for more than 1000 days, 40% believe this to be true, and only 16% believe that Sarajevo siege, which lasted for over 1000 days, really happened and that this is war crime.  71% have heard that the mass graves in Batajnica, Suva Reka and Perucac revealed a large number of corpses of Albanian civilians, only 31% believe this to be true, and only every fourth citizen believe that this event really happened and that it is war crime… Most citizens do not have any idea about the number of casualties in wars on former SFRY territory (the number of Serb refugees from Croatia, BiH and Kosovo, the number of killed in Sarajevo and Srebrenica, the total number of killed on former SFRY territory…), but a large majority (84%) think that the Serbs sustained the largest number of victims and (with the exception of the Slovenians) committed the least crimes (71%).

28. Belrade Center for Human Right Significantly higher percentage of citizens believe that an event is credible and think of it as a crime when these are the crimes where the Serbs were the victims Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory 1992-1995 Have you heard about the stated event, do you believe it happened, was it inevitable in the course of war or a war crime? % in population % of those who have heard % of those who believe % in population

29. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory % of citizens who think the stated event is war crime

30. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory With the exception of Srebrenica, a significantly smaller number of citizens say that they heard about the events related to wars on former SFRY territory, than in 2001. With the exception of event related to civilians being killed by sniper shots in Sarajevo, the number of citizens who believe that the stated events really happened, has significantly decreased.

31. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory % of citizens who state that they heard of the event

32. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory % of citizens who state that they believe the event they heard about really happened

33. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Great majority of citizens, 84%, completely agree with the statement that qualification of a war criminal does not depend on his national affiliation, but still 11% of citizens has at least a slight dilemma in this respect, 3% of citizens is still indecisive, and additional 3% does not agree with this statement. A war criminal is a criminal regardless of the nation he belongs to %

34. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Less than one third of citizens heard about the report of Republic of Srpska government on crimes in Srebrenica, and almost half of them think that the report reflects the truth only partially. Majority of citizens, 60%, had not heard about the apology made by the president of Republic of Srpska, and only 7% thinks that it was high time this apology was offered. Have you heard about the report of the government of Republic of Srpska on crimes in Srebrenica? To what effect does that report reflect what really happened? Answers by 29% of citizens who heard of the report Attitude to apology made by the president of Republic of Srpska, Dragan Cavic, for the crime committed in Srebrenica 14% of population 9% of population 3% of population

35. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory More than half citizens did not have any idea of the number of Serb refugees from Croatia, and almost 70% of the number of Serb refugees from BiH. In comparison to 2001, the supposed number of refugees was significantly lowered, and the number of citizens who did not know the answer to this question went up. Estimate of number of Serb refugees from Croatia in thousands 2004 2001 Estimate of number of Serb refugees from BiH in thousands 2001 2004 Over 300 000 Over 300 000+

36. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Much more answers “I do not know” and fewer number of displaced persons in citizens’ perception were obtained than in 2001, and the same was true of number of refuges from Kosovo after NATO intervention and the number of those displaced from their houses in BiH. Estimate of the number of Serb refugees from Kosovo after NATO intervention in 1999, in thousands 2004 2001 Estimate of the total number of displaced persons in BiH, in thousands 2001 2004 Over 900 000 Over 200 000

37. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Almost 80% of citizens does not have the slightest idea of the number of killed in Sarajevo, and 75% of the number of the missing in Srebrenica. The number of casualties in these cases, according to their statement, is smaller than three years ago. Estimate of the total number of killed in Sarajevo, in thousands 2004 2001 Estimate of the number of the missing in Srebrenica, in thousands 2001 2004

38. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory The number of killed on former SFRY territory since 1991 to 1995, along with the number of killed in Sarajevo, is the greatest unknown for citizens of Serbia, and the number of citizens who stated that they did not have any idea on these numbers has increased even more in comparison to 2001. Estimate of the total number of killed on former SFRY territory in 1991-1995 wars, in thousands 2004 2001 Estimate of the total number of those who moved out of Serbia since 1992 2001 2004

39. Belrade Center for Human Right Familiarity and attitude to events related to wars on former SFRY territory Citizens are of the opinion that the Serbs had the largest number of victims (with the exception of Slovenians) and committed the least crimes: 84% of citizens think that the Serbs had the largest number of victims, 71% that they committed fewer crimes than Croats, Albanians and Moslems (out of this number 26% think that Serbs committed fewer crimes even than Slovenians) Who had the largest number of victims in 1991-1995 wars on former SFRY territory? Who committed most crimes in 1991- 1995 wars on former SFRY territory? Rank by number of victims Rank by number of crimes

40. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitude to ICTY: attitude to cooperation, trust and perception of ICTY mission

41. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitude to ICTY: attitude to cooperation, trust and perception of ICTY mission Attitude to ICTY: attitude to cooperation, trust and perception of ICTY mission Despite being uninformed about ICTY and the course of trials, citizens have a clearly defined attitude to ICTY and its mission Attitude to ICTY is extremely negative, and every fourth citizen thinks that there should be no cooperation with ICTY under no circumstances, which is a much higher percentage than previous year. Three quarters of citizens interpret ICTY mission as “world conspiracy” against Serbs and Serbia, slightly more often than every fifth citizen believes that the purpose of ICTY trials is to promote the idea of peace and tolerance, or at least prevent war crimes in the future. Much more citizens who support one of the “conspiracy theories” believe that ICTY will accomplish its mission, which is almost one third of the total population (29%).

42. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitude to ICTY: attitude to cooperation, trust and perception of ICTY mission Attitude to ICTY: attitude to cooperation, trust and perception of ICTY mission  In comparison to previous year, the number of citizens who think that there should be cooperation with ICTY decreased from 85% to 70%. Majority of citizens still think that we should cooperate because this is the prerequisite for integration and for avoiding sanctions, only 15% think that we should cooperate in order to achieve justice.  Majority, 69%, do not believe that ICTY will try the indicted Serbs in an unbiased manner, and up to 74% think that victims who are of Serbian nationality and their families also perceive ICTY as very unjust.  Every fourth citizen thinks that victims of other nationalities and their families also perceive ICTY as very unjust.  However, 40% of citizens stated that they would agree to give a statement to ICTY investigators if they had witnessed a war crime.

43. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY: attitude to cooperation Attitudes towards ICTY: attitude to cooperation Attitude to cooperation of Serbia with ICTY Every fourth citizen thinks that there should be no cooperation with ICTY whatever the consequences might be. Percentage of citizens who think that Serbia should cooperate with ICTY has significantly dropped in comparison to previous year, from 85% to 70%. The same as last year, only 15% of citizens think that we should cooperate in order to achieve justice, cooperation for the remaining 55% is motivated by utilitarian reasons-fulfilling conditions for Serbia to reintegrate into world and avoiding sanctions. For cooperation total 85% For cooperation total 70% For justice Utilitarian For cooperation

44. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towrds ICTY: attitude to cooperation Attitudes towrds ICTY: attitude to cooperation Attitude to cooperation of Serbia with ICTY depending on age, education and region Cooperation with ICTY is most opposed by older citizens, those with lower education and somewhat more by citizens of Central Serbia than citizens of Belgrade and Vojvodina.

45. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY: attitude to cooperation Attitude to cooperation of Serbia with ICTY depending on political orientation Attitudes to cooperation with ICTY are in accordance with policy of political parties that citizens support: the biggest support for cooperation with ICTY is given by Democratic party electorate, the most opposition is expressed by Serbian radical party and Socialist party of Serbia. 16%3%4%7%9%4%18% % of support in population

46. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY: confidence that it is unbiased Attitudes towards ICTY: confidence that it is unbiased Confidence that ICTY will give a fair and fact-based trial to indicted of Serbian nationality More than two thirds of population think that ICTY tries the indicated Serbs in a biased manner, and the reason most often given for this opinion is that there are more indicted Serbs. What is the greatest bias that ICTY shows towards indicted Serbs in comparison to indicted of other nationalities Answers by part of population who doubt that ICTY is unbiased

47. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY activities by war crimes victims and their families Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY activities by war crimes victims and their families Most citizens, 74%, think that Serbian victims and their families perceive ICTY as very unjust, only 16% think that they feel justice has been served (at least partially 14%, or completely 2%). How do ICTY trials affect war crimes victims and their families, when it comes to Serb casualties and their families?

48. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY activities by war crimes victims and their families Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY activities by war crimes victims and their families Most citizens, 56%, think that ICTY trials make victims of other nationalities and their families feel that justice has been served (at least partially 39%, or completely 17%), while every fourth citizen thinks that they perceive ICTY as unjust. How do ICTY trials affect victims of non Serb nationalities (Moslems/Bosniaks, Croats, Albanians) and their families?

49. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY mission Most citizens, 74%, interpret the purpose of ICTY trials in accordance with one of the “conspiracy theories”, which involves international community, NATO and USA. Only slightly more frequent than every fifth citizen sees the message of ICTY trials as going in favor of peace and tolerance, or at least prevention of future war crimes. In your opinion, what is the main purpose of war crime trials in ICTY? 22% 74%

50. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY : Perception of ICTY mission Younger citizens, those with higher education and the population in Vojvodina more often than others believe that the purpose of ICTY trials is to disseminate the idea of peace and tolerance,or at least prevent war crimes from happening in future. In your opinion, what is the main purpose of war crime trials in ICTY?

51. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY : Perception of ICTY mission The most positive attitude to ICTY mission is expressed by SPO and DS electorate, the most negative by SRS and SPS. Perception of purpose of trials for war crimes in ICTY depends on political orientation % of support in population 16%3% 4% 9%7%18%

52. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY :Perception of ICTY mission and attitude to cooperation Attitudes towards ICTY :Perception of ICTY mission and attitude to cooperation Attitude to cooperation with ICTY and interpretation of ICTY mission are directly connected: the more “theory of conspiracy”, the less support for cooperation. Majority of citizens, 63%, who think that we should cooperate with ICTY in order to achieve justice, also believe that the purpose of trials is to send the message of peace and tolerance or at least prevent future war crimes, while 94% of opponents interpret the purpose of ICTY trials in accordance with one of the “conspiracy theories”. Attitude to cooperation and perception of purpose of trials for war crime in ICTY 15% 22% 33% 25% % in population

53. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY mission Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY mission The manner in which ICTY and Prosecution Office were formed are most frequently stated reasons for forming an opinion on the purpose of ICTY. While almost every fourth citizens states the activities of Prosecutor’s Office, only 14% state the course of trials itself. What had influenced the citizens most to form the stated attitude to purpose of war crime trials in ICTY

54. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY mission Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY mission Citizens who support “conspiracy theories” related to purpose of ICTY, more often state that their attitude was influenced by the manner in which ICTY was formed and activities of Prosecutor’s Office, and citizens who believe that the purpose of ICTY trials is to send the message of peace and tolerance or at least prevent future crimes, more often state the attitude of international community and also the attitude of our politicians as the prevailing influence which made them form their attitude. What had influenced the citizens most to form the stated attitude to purpose of war crime trials in ICTY 16% 6% 12% 32% 30% % in population

55. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY mission Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY mission Most citizens could not name a single concrete event which influenced them to form their opinion of the purpose of ICTY trials. Event which influenced the citizens to form the stated opinion on purpose of war crime trials in ICTY

56. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY mission Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY mission Out of total adult population, 37% believe that ICTY trials will serve their purpose, 29% believe in conspiracy theory (5% that a new world order will be established with USA as the leader, and 12% that by blaming Serbs they will justify NATO aggression, 12% that by blaming Serbs they will make Serbia dependent on international community), and only 8% believe that the trials will send a positive message (6%-a message of peace and tolerance, and 2%-at least prevent future war crimes.) Will war crime trials eventually manage to serve their purpose? % of answers “considerably” and “completely” in comparison to given purpose 12% 16% 30% 32% 6% % in population 5612 2

57. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY mission and willingness to testify Attitudes towards ICTY: Perception of ICTY mission and willingness to testify Most willing to give a statement to ICTY investigators would be those who believe that ICTY mission is to promote the idea of peace and tolerance or at least to prevent future war crimes. (52% and 53%) If you witnessed a war crime, would you agree to give a statement to ICTY investigators?

58. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes

59. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Despite being uninformed about domestic judiciary for war crimes and general lack of confidence in domestic judicial system ( in July, only 14% of citizens had confidence in domestic judicial system), when it comes to war crime trials, a large majority of citizens (71%) think that it would be better if trials were conducted in Serbia, than in The Hague.  Most citizens think that the trials in domestic courts would be more fair and more just (66%), and that this would speed up the procedure from bringing the indictment to placing the indicted in custody (60%) and that the procedure from the start of trial up to the point of passing the sentence would be more efficient (55%).  Most citizens, 60%, think that nationality of the accused would be of no influence to sentence and that most media would cover the trials objectively (60%).  At the same time, less than half citizens (43%) believe that domestic prosecutor’s office would have the courage to bring to trial all cases and that the judges would resist the pressure from public (46%), and only 32% believe that the war crimes prosecutor would be independent from government in bringing the decisions.

60. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Only 16% of citizens have confidence in judicial institution in Serbia, however, when it comes to war crime trials, then 57% think that our judicial system is ready to try the accused. A larger percentage of citizens (70%) think that it is better to have war crime trials in Serbia than the percentage of those who think that our judicial system is ready to try war crimes. Is our judicial system ready to try the accused of war crimes? Is it better to have war crime trials in Serbia instead of The Hague? 33% 57% Confidence in judicial institution in Serbia

61. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Young citizens and those with higher education more often than others think that our judicial system is not ready to try the accused of war crimes and they less often than others believe that it is better to organize war crime trials in Serbia than in The Hague. Is our judicial system ready to try the accused of war crimes? Is it better to organize war crime trials in Serbia than in The Hague?

62. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes depending on political orientation SPS and SRS support is at the bottom of the list in general confidence in judicial system in Serbia, but top of the list by percentage of those who think that our judicial system is ready to try the accused of war crimes. Is our judicial system ready to try the accused of war crimes? Confidence in judiciary institution in Serbia % support in population 3%16%4%7%9%18%4%

63. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes depending on political orientation The least support for war crime trials in domestic courts is given by DS and SPO supporters, and the most by SRS and SPS supporters. Is it better to organize war crime trials in Serbia instead of The Hague? % support in population 3%16%4%7%9%4%18%

64. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Most citizens, 66%, think that the trials in domestic courts for war crimes would be more just and fair than in ICTY, only 12% think that these trials would be less just and fair. Would the proceedings in war crime trials in domestic courts be more just and fair than in ICTY?

65. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitude to domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitude to domestic judiciary for war crimes Most often given reasons referred to general confidence in domestic courts and the opinion that our citizens should be put on trial for crimes committed on “our territory” and be judged by our judges in domestic courts. Spontaneously most frequently given reasons by citizens who think that the procedure for war crime trials in domestic courts would be more just and fair than in ICTY (66% of population) –(multiple answers)

66. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes The most frequently stated reason that made the citizens form the opinion that the trials in domestic courts would be equally just as in ICTY is general lack of confidence in justice (“justice is the same everywhere”), but also the opinion that domestic courts are corrupted as well the opinion that there will be a lot of pressure from politicians and the world on the courts. Spontaneously most frequently given reasons by citizens who think that the procedure for war crime trials in domestic courts would be equally just as in ICTY (14% of population) – (multiple answers)

67. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes The reason that citizens gave for their opinion that trials in domestic courts would be less fair and just is most often based on their general opinion that the trials cannot be fair and objective and the opinion that domestic judiciary is corrupt and incompetent. Spontaneously most frequently given reasons by citizens who think that the procedure for war crime trials in domestic courts would be less just and fair than in ICTY (12% of population) –(multiple answers)

68. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitude to domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitude to domestic judiciary for war crimes Most citizens (69%) think that the trials in domestic courts would speed up the process from raising the indictment to bringing the accused into custody because the accused would turn themselves in voluntarily, and the trial process itself, from start to the point of court ruling would be more efficient (55%). Would trials in domestic courts speed up the procedure from raising the indictment to bringing the accused into custody Would the process of trial itself, from start to court ruling be more efficient in domestic court than in The Hague?

69. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Arguments in favor of expected better efficiency of domestic courts can mainly be classified in four groups: the accused and the witnesses would be more willing to cooperate, domestic courts will be more objective, there will be better understanding of circumstances and the evidence will be more available. Most often stated reasons by citizens who think that the process from the start of trial to the point of court ruling would be more efficient-quicker in domestic courts than in ICTY(55% of population) Witness and the accused would be more willing to cooperate Greater objectivity of the courts Better understanding of circumstances Evidence is more available

70. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Citizens who think that the trial process would be equally efficient in domestic courts as in ICTY, mostly find that all the courts are the same, and that our courts would stall passing the verdict, but also that they are corrupt and biased. Most often stated reasons by citizens who think that the process from the start of trial to the point of court ruling would be equally efficient in domestic courts as in ICTY (18% of population)

71. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Citizens who are of the opinion that domestic courts would be less efficient than ICTY, have a very negative opinion of the domestic judiciary and assess it as generally bad, biased, corrupted and liable to pressure from the public. Most often stated reasons by citizens who think that the process from the start of trial to the point of court ruling would be less efficient in domestic courts than in ICTY (14% of population)

72. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitude to domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitude to domestic judiciary for war crimes Nearly half of the citizens think that domestic Prosecutor’s Office for war crimes will have the courage to institute all proceedings for war crimes, but slightly more than half also think that the prosecutor would not be independent in his decisions, but would ask for approval from the government for the decisions he makes. Do you think that war crimes Prosecution has the courage to institute all proceedings for war crimes? Will the war crime prosecutor be independent in the process or subjected to political pressure?

73. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Nearly half of the citizens think that the judges will resist public pressure (46%), but only slightly lower percentage (43%) thinks that security services will try to undermine investigation about activities of their members. Will judges in the special department of the District Court for war crimes be able to resist the pressure from the public during the processes which are under way and processes that are still to begin? Will security services try to undermine the investigation of their members?

74. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitudes towards domestic judiciary for war crimes Most citizens think that the nationality of the accused will have no influence on the verdict, and 7% think that the verdicts will be even harsher for Serbs. More than half of the population believe that the media, or majority of them, will cover the proceedings objectively. Will domestic court judges be biased in relation to nationality of the accused: if the accused is a Serb, Croat, Bosniak, Albanian? How will the media cover proceedings in special department of the District Court for war crimes

75. Belrade Center for Human Right Attitude to domestic judiciary for war crimes Attitude to domestic judiciary for war crimes Citizens are divided in their assessment of efficiency of special department of District Court for war crimes and department for organized crime. The most frequently expressed opinion (about one third of the population) is that there will be no difference between these two courts. In terms of efficiency, is there a difference between special department of District Court for war crimes and department for organized crime?

76. Belrade Center for Human Right Facing the truth and the role of international and domestic judiciary in accepting it

77. Belrade Center for Human Right Facing the truth and the role of international and domestic judiciary in accepting it Most citizens, 75%, are of the opinion that facing the events of wars on former SFRY territory is important for the future of the country, but the motifs for this standpoint divide them into two groups:  Those who think that facing the truth is important in order to show that the Serbs are not guilty and clearing future generations of blame  Those who think that only by facing the truth and accepting responsibility can we expect better future and secure our place in the international community  Most citizens (55%) are of the opinion that trials in domestic courts would contribute to the process of learning the truth, because both the accused and the witnesses would be more ready to state the truth, but less than half (40%) believe that in this case, the public would accept the truth completely.  Significantly larger percentage of citizens would be ready to testify in domestic courts (59%), than give a statement to ICTY investigators.  Most citizens do not believe that in near future a war could break out again on former SFRY territory.

78. Belrade Center for Human Right Facing the truth and the role of ICTY and domestic judiciary in accepting it Facing the truth and the role of ICTY and domestic judiciary in accepting it 75% of citizens think that facing the events in wars on former SFRY territory is important for the future of the country, but the reasons that make them think so divide them into two groups: those who think that facing he truth is important in order to show that Serbs are not guilty and in order to clear future generations of blame and those who think that facing the truth is important in order to accept responsibility and thus secure our place in the international community. Is facing the truth about the events in wars on former SFRY territory important for the future of the country? 75%

79. Belrade Center for Human Right Facing the truth and the role of ICTY and domestic judiciary in accepting it Citizens with higher education more often than others think that facing the truth is important so that we can accept our responsibility and thus secure better future for the country. Is facing the truth about the events in wars on former SFRY territory important for the future of the country??

80. Belrade Center for Human Right Facing the truth and the role of ICTY and domestic judiciary in accepting it Facing the truth and the role of ICTY and domestic judiciary in accepting it More than half citizens think that the trials in domestic courts would contribute to the process of revealing the truth because both the accused and the witnesses would be more willing to say the truth in domestic courts, but only less than half (40%) think that the public would accept any truth that is revealed in domestic courts. Would the trials in domestic courts contribute to the process of learning the truth about events in wars on former SFRY territory? What would be the effect of trials in domestic courts on public if it was proved that the accused Serbs were guilty of war crimes ?

81. Belrade Center for Human Right Facing the truth and the role of ICTY and domestic judiciary in accepting it Facing the truth and the role of ICTY and domestic judiciary in accepting it Young people and those with higher education are the ones who believe the least that the public would accept any truth revealed in domestic courts. What would be the effect of trials in domestic courts on public if it was proved that the accused Serbs were guilty of war crimes?

82. Belrade Center for Human Right Facing the truth and the role of ICTY and domestic judiciary in accepting it Significantly larger percent of citizens expressed willingness to testify in domestic courts (59%) than to give a statement to ICTY investigators (40%). If you were a witness to a war crime, would you be ready to give a statement to ICTY investigators? Would you be ready to testify in a domestic court?

83. Belrade Center for Human Right Facing the truth and the role of ICTY and domestic judiciary in accepting it Better educated people would be more willing to give their statement to ICTY investigators and to testify in domestic courts. The lower the education, the larger the difference in favor of readiness to testify in domestic courts in comparison to willingness to give a statement to ICTY investigators. If you were a witness to a war crime, would you be rady to give a statement to ICTY investigators? Would you be ready to testify in a domestic court?

84. Belrade Center for Human Right Facing the truth and the role of ICTY and domestic judiciary in accepting it Most citizens do not believe that there could be a new war on former SFRY territory in the near future. 17% think that it is very likely that in the next 5 years there could be a new war on former SFRY territory, and 22% that there could be a war in the next 10 years. Is it likely that there could be a new war on former SFRY territory?