Munter: U.S. stance on Kovačević unchanged

U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter says that Washington has not changed its stance that Miladin Kovacevic should stand trial in the U.S. “Our position remains the same. We believe that it is in our interest and the interest of the Serbian people for Kovacevic to be brought to justice,” Munter said. Munter: U.S. stance on Kovacevic unchanged According to local media, the government plans to pay USD 1mn in damages to the American student allegedly assaulted by Kovacevic, who then proceeded to post bail and flee the U.S. with the help of counterfeit documents issued to him by the Serbian consulate in New York. Asked whether the U.S. embassy was in any way involved in talks on compensation between the Serbian government and the injured student, Bryan Steinhauer, Munter said that all these questions should be put to the government. Kovacevic’s lawyer Borivoje Borovic said that there were no legal grounds for the Serbian government to pay damages to Steinhauer. “Neither the Serbian nor American courts have reached a verdict regarding this case,” he told daily Danas. “If Serbia really pays damages, Kovacevic’s guilt will be prejudged, even though it has not been proven before any court of law,” he said, adding that he was not aware of any talks related to the payment of damages to the American student. Miladin Kovacevic (archive)

Munter: U.S. stance on Kovačević unchanged

According to local media, the government plans to pay USD 1mn in damages to the American student allegedly assaulted by Kovačević, who then proceeded to post bail and flee the U.S. with the help of counterfeit documents issued to him by the Serbian consulate in New York.

Asked whether the U.S. embassy was in any way involved in talks on compensation between the Serbian government and the injured student, Bryan Steinhauer, Munter said that all these questions should be put to the government.

Kovačević’s lawyer Borivoje Borović said that there were no legal grounds for the Serbian government to pay damages to Steinhauer.

“Neither the Serbian nor American courts have reached a verdict regarding this case,” he told daily Danas.

“If Serbia really pays damages, Kovačević’s guilt will be prejudged, even though it has not been proven before any court of law,” he said, adding that he was not aware of any talks related to the payment of damages to the American student.