Writ of summons - Van Diepen Van der Kroef

principal officers on the staff of the Force Commander were his deputy, and two chiefsof staff, one for operational matters and one for logistics and administrative matters.These two chiefs of staff were the Dutch officers, Kolsteren and De Jonge. The chiefs ofstaff were responsible for the daily conduct of affairs, including operations on theground, in the air and planning and policy (see page 1179 of the NIOD Report).Bosnia Herzegovina Command in Sarajevo60. Bosnia Herzegovina Command was based in Sarajevo and was responsible for theBosnia Herzegovina area. The usual staff divisions also came under the BosniaHerzegovina Commander and his Chief of Staff (see page 1182 of the NIOD Report).At the time of the fall of the Safe Area Commander Smith was on leave. His positionduring this period was formally deputized by the French General, Gobilliard. AsGobilliard was busy with the developments in his ‘own’ sector of Sarajevo, he was onlyoccasionally in a position to follow the developments at UNPROFOR headquarters.These various factors resulted in the Chief of Staff, the Dutch officer Nicolai, and hismilitary assistant, the Dutch officer De Ruiter, being in charge during the fall of the SafeArea (see page 137 of the Dutch Parliamentary Enquiry).Sector North East in Tuzla61. A Scandinavian battalion termed Nordicbat and Dutchbat fell under the command ofSector North East Tuzla. The Norwegian officer Haukland was on leave during the fallof the Safe Area. The Dutch Deputy Commander, Colonel Brantz, deputized for him.The position of military Chief of Staff, who commanded the five Staff Divisions, wasalways filled by a Dutch officer (see page 1185 of the NIOD Report).Dutchbat in the Srebrenica Safe Area62. The fourth link in the chain of command was Dutchbat in the Srebrenica Safe Area, withits most important base at the compound in Potocari, and a smaller base some kilometresdistant at Srebrenica.© Van Diepen Van der Kroef Advocaten 2007www.vandiepen.com36