Gotovina et al Judgement Volume I - ICTY

39239151. Čermak left the President’s office, called General Laušić at the MoD for officialIDs and cars to go to Knin. 445 Laušić testified that on 5 August 1995 in Červenko’soffice, Čermak showed him the decision appointing him to the Garrison Command inKnin. 446 Čermak stated that he also called the logistics base in Šibenik, and told themthat he was coming, and needed people for logistical support to go to Knin. 447 In theevening, the jeeps from the MoD arrived, and Čermak, two drivers and one or twosecurity men left Zagreb and drove to Šibenik. 448 They arrived there in the earlymorning of 6 August 1995, gathered through Major Jonjić some logistics people at thelogistics base, and in the afternoon went by helicopter to Knin. 449 Čermak stated that inthe evening of the day of his arrival in Knin or the next morning, he met Gotovina,whom he told why he had come, and who replied that he knew and that he was glad thatČermak had come. 450152. Vesna Škare-Ožbolt, Assistant Chief of Staff of the Office of the President ofCroatia from January 1995, 451 testified that before 4 August 1995, and in the context ofOperation Storm, Čermak’s name had not been mentioned. According to the witness,she heard around 5 August 1995, that Čermak was being considered for the commanderof the Knin garrison. 452 Škare-Ožbolt testified that as the goals were to bring themilitary operation to its end as soon as possible, to start restoring the communicationssystem, and to revitalize the entire area, Čermak was considered the man for the job. 453Further, an individual was sought who had the qualities of a businessman and asoldier. 454 She noted that prior to Čermak’s arrival the government’s trustee, PetarPašić, was responsible for Knin. According to the witness, while normalization of life inKnin would have been his responsibility the problems prevalent in the area went far445 P2525 (Suspect interview with Ivan Čermak, 13 March 2001), pp. 38, 66, 69.446 P2159 (Mate Laušić, witness statement, 11 August 2004), para. 235.447 P2525 (Suspect interview with Ivan Čermak, 13 March 2001), pp. 42, 66.448 P2525 (Suspect interview with Ivan Čermak, 13 March 2001), pp. 66, 69, 163.449 P2525 (Suspect interview with Ivan Čermak, 13 March 2001), pp. 10-11, 67-68; P2532 (Accusedinterview with Ivan Čermak, 7 June 2004), p. 31. See also D1723 (Ivo Cipci, witness statement, 12 June2009), para. 17; Ivo Cipci, T. 23161.450 P2525 (Suspect interview with Ivan Čermak, 13 March 2001), pp. 10-11; P2526 (Suspect interviewwith Ivan Čermak, 17 March 1998), p. 101; P2532 (Accused interview with Ivan Čermak, 7 June 2004),pp. 2-3.451 Vesna Škare-Ožbolt, T. 18039; D1472 (Decision Appointing Škare-Ožbolt Assistant Head of theOffice of the President, 30 January 1995).452 Vesna Škare-Ožbolt, T. 18096.453 Vesna Škare-Ožbolt, T. 18096-18099.454 D1471 (Vesna Škare-Ožbolt, witness statement, 3 October 2007), para. 10.76Case No.: IT-06-90-T 15 April 2011 `