Essex lawyer helps Serbs sue over Belgrade bombing

A Colchester solicitor is taking on the governments of 17 countries, including the UK, by acting for five Serbian civilians pursuing an action against NATO for the bombing of a Belgrade TV station during the Bosnian crisis.Tony Fisher, a partner in Essex firm Fisher Jones Greenwood, together with other US and European lawyers, is suing on behalf of the families of four Serbian media technicians who died and one who survived the bombing in April 1999.It is thought to be the first case of its kind brought against NATO.

Mr Fisher, who was referred the case by the human rights centre at the University of Essex, notified in turn by its counterpart in Belgrade, said: 'If there is a full investigation, we will be asking for the disclosure of NATO's decision-making policies, which were being followed in the selection of civilian targets in Belgrade.'The 17 countries strongly oppose the action and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is currently considering whether it has jurisdiction to try the case.

'The countries involved are not addressing the merits of the application, but are instead pushing for the European Court to decline the case,' Mr Fisher said.

'They are arguing that as Yugoslavia was where the incident occurred - and is not a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights - the court does not have the jurisdiction to deal with the matter.' The civilians claim that the NATO countries breached articles 2 and 10 of the convention by bombing a media target they knew was occupied by civilians.

NATO claims the TV station was a legitimate target as it was conveying propaganda and was part of Slobodan Milosovic's 'control structure'.

A decision on admissibility is expected in October, but Mr Fisher said he is hopeful.

'The fact the court is considering it means they have recognised the important issues at stake,' he said.

The five claims total more than 300,000.

Mr Fisher added: 'They want recompense for the damage suffered, but more importantly would like to secure a level of responsibility.'Andrew Towler