Tomic, Alexandra; Swigart, Leigh; Briand, David P.
Abstract:
A transcript of an interview with Alexandra Tomic by Leigh Swigart and David P. Briand. The interview took place on May 25, 2015 at The Hague, Netherlands, and the transcript, which is represented here, has been reviewed and edited from the original audio version. During the interview, Tomic reminisces on life in England at the beginning of break-up of the former Yugoslavia; work as an interpreter for Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian refugees in Holland; first assignment and early translation work at ICTY; experience as Belgravian expatriate in Holland; first mission doing English/French interpretation; missions to Zagreb and Sarajevo after Dayton Peace Accords; difficulties as a Serbian during interpretations; interpretation of witness interviews and sensitivity issues that arose; first time in BCS booth during courtroom arguments; interpretation for defense counsel at the detention center and contact with the accused; decision to leave ICTY for ICC and challenge of building new position; tensions at ICTY during 1999 NATO air strikes on Belgrade, and adjustments to ICC translation section. Tomic also discusses classification of Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian [BCS] as single language; internal dynamics and tensions within ICTY's BCS translators; attempts by the Tribunal to contact witnesses and prosecute defendants in a balanced way; structure of investigating and interpretation teams for witness interviews; mental preparation for and toll of witness interviews; differences between Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian and difficulties proofreading documents in BCS; impact of work on personal life, and challenges of translating and interpreting variety of languages at ICC.
