USA/UN: CHIEF PROSECUTOR CARLA DEL PONTE SLAMS SERBIA FOR ITS LACK OF COOPERATION WITH THE U.N. WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
Record ID:
649449
USA/UN: CHIEF PROSECUTOR CARLA DEL PONTE SLAMS SERBIA FOR ITS LACK OF COOPERATION WITH THE U.N. WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
- Title: USA/UN: CHIEF PROSECUTOR CARLA DEL PONTE SLAMS SERBIA FOR ITS LACK OF COOPERATION WITH THE U.N. WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
- Date: 23rd November 2004
- Summary: (U7) NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF UNITED NATIONS
- Embargoed: 8th December 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES AND UNITED NATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime,General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA60U2W710ST4WWYYEQTXJDW4D
- Story Text: Hague prosecutor Carla Del Ponte slams Serbia for showing "defiance" to U.N. tribunal.
Serbia's lack of cooperation with the U.N. war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia is "the single most important obstacle" to the court completing its work, chief prosecutor Carla Del Ponte said on Tuesday.
In the report she delivered to the United Nations Security Council, Del Ponte said Belgrade "has deliberately chosen to ignore its legal obligations" and maintained an "attitude of defiance" towards The Hague.
Said Del Ponte: "The Serbian government has deliberately chosen to ignore its legal obligations. The consistent failure of Serbia to co-operate was brought to the attention of the Council on 4th May, 2004, in a report forwarded by the President. In the mean time, the Serbian government's attitude of defiance towards the Tribunal, has not changed."
The report submitted by Del Ponte is expected to open the door to Croatia for entry talks with the European Union, early next year.
Del Ponte outlined the most important issues faced by the Tribunal.
"Many difficulties remain. Principally because the requested documents are in the hands of the authorities who are blocking co-operation with the Tribunal. All in all the lack of co-operation with Belgrade remains the single most important obstacle faced by the Tribunal in the implementation of the completion strategy," said Del Ponte.
Serbia was braced for the strong criticism. Belgrade media and politicians expect that United States economic aid may once again be partially frozen by the U.S. Congress because of its failure to satisfy the tribunal.
Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has repeatedly insisted he is cooperating, but at the same time four prominent generals indicted by the tribunal remain free in Serbia and he has said they will not be forcibly handed over. Del Ponte also singled out Republika Srpska -- the Serb half of Bosnia -- for failing to arrest a single war crimes suspect despite repeatedly pledging to co-operate fully with the court.
This demonstrated that there were "fundamental systemic weaknesses built into the law enforcement and security structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in particular the Republika Srpska", she added.
Nine years almost to the day that the Dayton Peace accords were signed ending the war in Bosnia, the tribunal's two most wanted men are still at large.
Bosnian Serb "president" Radovan Karadzic and his army commander General Ratko Mladic face two counts of genocide for the slaughter of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in July 1995, and for the 43-month siege of Sarajevo which killed around 12,000 citizens.
To some Serbs, however, they are national heroes. Del Ponte has repeatedly said that Mladic is hiding in Serbia under the protection of sympathizers, although Belgrade denies it. Karadzic is believed to be somewhere in Bosnia or Montenegro.
Croatian general Ante Gotovina is the Hague's third most wanted man.
Del Ponte's speech noted that although Croatia has "apparently stepped up its efforts to locate and arrest Gotovina", there were strong indications the fugitive "continues to benefit from a well-organised support network, including within state structures."
"This is the only remaining obstacle to the co-operation of Croatia with the ICTY," del Ponte's text added.
In all three cases, advancement on the road to membership of the European Union and NATO -- a declared goal of Zagreb, Sarajevo and Belgrade -- hinges on displaying a commitment to uphold international law by complying with the tribunal.
Dr. Miomir Zuzul, the Foreign Minister of Croatia, also addressed the Security Council, saying that
"I assure you that Croatia is ready to do its part and this is why we are credible candidates for EU membership. In conclusion let me re-iterate that Croatia is fully aware of the importance of co-operation of ICTY and we will continue to fulfill our obligations to the best of our ability."
Stanislas Kamanzi, the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations also addressed the Security Council, addressing the work of the Tribunal and the work that lies ahead with reference to Rwanda.
"We hope the Tribunal shall improve its efficiency and effectiveness in identifying areas for further improvement.
Continuous improvement is particularly important given a relatively short time remaining for the ICTY to complete its mandate," said Kamanzi.
2004 marks the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, with over 800, 000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates slaughtered by extremists from the ruling Hutu majority. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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