Advokantenkantoor Olof & Steijnen

                            Couwenhoven 52-05

                            3703 ER Zeist

                            the Netherlands

                            tel. +20.69.56.867

                            fax  +20.69.57.830

                            e-mail: n.h.van.holst@freeler.nl

 

    13 February 2002

 

Mr. Claude Jorda                        

P.O. Box 13888

2501 EW the Hague

 

Mr. Richard May

P.O. Box 13888

2501 EW the Hague

 

Mr. Hans Holthuis

P.O. Box 13888

2501 EW the Hague

 

Mrs. Carla del Ponte

P.O. Box 13888

the Hague

 

 

faxnr. 070-5125355

 

 

 

Dear Sirs/Madam,

 

 

Yesterday, February 12, 2002, during the oral proceedings before the the Hague Dis­trict Court case of mr. Milosevic v. the ICTY & the State of the Netherlands, I was very surprised to hear the State party saying, I quote:

 

"Further the tribunal has informed the State that it has decided - and that it has informed mr. Steijnen of it in written on 31 january 2001 [supposed to be intended: 2002]
 

- to allow access on mr. Steijnen to the plaintiff with a view to the consideration of the application filed at the European Court, on equal terms as a counsel is getting acces who defends an accused before the tribunal, i.e. with the opportunity of confidential communication."

 

This is completely new for me !
 

According to this statement by the State counsel, I am suppo­sed to have received a letter sent by you already since January 31, 2002.
 

That is absolutely out of the question !

 

It is a matter of fact that you failed to inform me of your express assent to my request for a free and unmonitores access to mr. Milosevic for me and my collegues, involved as lawyers in the European Court case, within the term set in the sum­mons and ending January 15, 2002.
 

But what is more, also after this date I never have received any sign of life of you.

 

And now I must hear, through the State and during the court sessi­on, that you would have sent me a letter.

 

I have to stress that I never received such a letter.
 

You didn't send a copy to the State counsel, nor did you provide the President of the the Hague wit a copy, which was reasonably to expect in such a case !

 

Did you send the alleged letter by registered mail ?

 

It is all very unclear to me.
 

So I hope that you can give clarifications as soon as possible and that, if there is really one, you can direct this letter to me as quickly as possible.

 

 

Yours sincerely

N.M.P. Steijnen