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Bosnia and Herzegovina: transfer of Karadzic and Mladic "obligatory under international law"
SARAJEVO 2 July 2001
SARAJEVO, 2 July 2001 (OSCE) - The transfer of indicted war criminals such as Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic is an obligation under international law and no separate entity law is required, said Robert Beecroft, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, during meetings with high political representatives of the Republika Srpska on 29 June.
"There is no room for delay", Mr. Beecroft said. "The focus has shifted from Belgrade to the Republika Srpska, and the reaction of the authorities in this Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, and of the SDS-party in particular, will be closely monitored in the coming days. Bosnia and Herzegovina is composed of two entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.
"Others that are on The Hague's indictment list should not remain under the impression that they can seek refuge in the Republika Srpska", Mr. Beecroft added.
The Mission Head had held meetings with the Republika Srpska President, Mirko Sarovic, Vice President Dragan Cavic, and the entity's Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic. Mr. Beecroft told them that the Republika Srpska now had the enormous opportunity to deal with the question of indicted war criminals. The transfer of Karadzic, Mladic and others under indictment was not an extradition to another state, but a requirement stemming from membership of the United Nations, he emphasized.
Mr. Beecroft stressed that the neighbouring States, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, were moving forward on this issue, and that Bosnia and Herzegovina could not afford to get caught in the middle of this process, with no future prospects of achieving the goals. He also emphasized that a change of attitude was needed very quickly. "Although this is a difficult task, the authorities now must grasp this opportunity to get rid of the two largest Serb symbols of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina".
The Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina also discussed with the Republika Srpska leaders the urgent need for immediate passage of the Election Law, and told them there was no "time-out", as some had interpreted the statement issued recently by the Council of Europe. He said that the Election Law was a technical document and not to be used for pursuing a political agenda.
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For more information please contact OSCE Acting Spokesperson, Sanela Tunovic, at +387 33 292 338 or at +387 66 134 758.
"There is no room for delay", Mr. Beecroft said. "The focus has shifted from Belgrade to the Republika Srpska, and the reaction of the authorities in this Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, and of the SDS-party in particular, will be closely monitored in the coming days. Bosnia and Herzegovina is composed of two entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.
"Others that are on The Hague's indictment list should not remain under the impression that they can seek refuge in the Republika Srpska", Mr. Beecroft added.
The Mission Head had held meetings with the Republika Srpska President, Mirko Sarovic, Vice President Dragan Cavic, and the entity's Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic. Mr. Beecroft told them that the Republika Srpska now had the enormous opportunity to deal with the question of indicted war criminals. The transfer of Karadzic, Mladic and others under indictment was not an extradition to another state, but a requirement stemming from membership of the United Nations, he emphasized.
Mr. Beecroft stressed that the neighbouring States, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, were moving forward on this issue, and that Bosnia and Herzegovina could not afford to get caught in the middle of this process, with no future prospects of achieving the goals. He also emphasized that a change of attitude was needed very quickly. "Although this is a difficult task, the authorities now must grasp this opportunity to get rid of the two largest Serb symbols of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina".
The Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina also discussed with the Republika Srpska leaders the urgent need for immediate passage of the Election Law, and told them there was no "time-out", as some had interpreted the statement issued recently by the Council of Europe. He said that the Election Law was a technical document and not to be used for pursuing a political agenda.
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For more information please contact OSCE Acting Spokesperson, Sanela Tunovic, at +387 33 292 338 or at +387 66 134 758.