Brammertz: Arrests most critical issue

Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz told the UN Security Council on Friday that Serbia has made considerable progress in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. "Serbia's cooperation with Haguecs prosecution has improved considerably. The change in political climate has resulted in a more decisive and active political, legal and operational approach," Brammertz said while presenting his regular report. Brammertz: Arrests most critical issue Arresting Mladic and Hadzic remains the most critical issue in Serbia's cooperation and must be accomplished as soon as possible, he said. The arrests of Radovan Karadzic and Stojan Zupljanin were the turning points, he said, pointing to improved cooperation among various services in planning and coordinating actions. The two arrests came from improved efficiency and coordination among political, judiciary and security agencies entrusted with searching for fugitives, he said. The work of the present services is hindered by shortcomings in the work of the previous ones, Brammertz added. The chief Hague prosecutor said that during his visit to Belgrade in November, he was presented with action plans for the arrest of Mladic and Hadzic, adding that he expects positive results. Positive results will depend on political support, and the international community's support will be crucial in the coming months and years, otherwise the work of the Hague Tribunal might be jeopardized, he said. Serbia has also made significant progress as regards access to archives and documents and has responded to prosecution requests in most cases. However, some documents missing from archives, especially as regards the trial of General Momcilo Perisic, remain a problem, he said. The Serbian National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal can play a key role in this regard, Brammertz said, pointing to the need for continued cooperation with officials in charge. In Belgrade, meanwhile, council's head Rasim Ljajic told B92 that he believes the latest Brammertz report will not suffice to change the Dutch position. Holland is blocking the implementation of the suspended SAA between Serbia and the EU pending Belgrade's full cooperation with the UN war crimes court headquartered in The Hague. The full text of the address is available here. This morning, before the chief Hague prosecutor's spoke at the UN SC, B92's sources said that the report would differ from the one he sent before leaving for New York. In Brussels, officials were saying that the chief Hague prosecutor's report could prompt the EU to unfreeze the Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia. On the other hand, Holland still states that Serbia's must fully finish its cooperation with the UN war crimes court. According to B92's sources, Brammertz's report was changed last minute, with Serbia's cooperation with the Tribunal deemed to be positive. Serbian media have already published parts of Brammertz's report sent to New York at the end of last month which stated that Serbia has made substantial progress in cooperation with the Tribunal. Brammertz said in the report that Serbia presented to him the operational plan for locating and arresting Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic and that Belgrade is working hard to fulfill its obligations. The negative part of the report speaks of the lack of protection for witnesses who backed down from testifying at the Tribunal because of threats. Reports this morning said that "it will remain to be seen if Brammertz will give a positive report to the UN SC even if Mladic is still at large, or if his report will be "essentially positive, but balanced." Dutch Foreign Minister Maxim Verhagen said last night that Serbia has yet to complete cooperation with the Tribunal. "It is clear that progress has been made, but, in our opinion, full cooperation is not present," he said. He said that the best example of full cooperation would be the "arrest of Ratko Mladic, the man who is responsible for one of the biggest massacres in Europe since World War II," Verhagen said. He did not want to comment whether he thinks that Mladic is in Serbia, and said that he is only observing "how Serbia responds to the demands of the Tribunal." "We will wait for Brammertz's report, but the EU member-states must determine themselves whether the criteria has been fulfilled," he said. Asked whether Holland's stance goes against the rest of the EU member-states on this issue, Verhagen said that the EU "jointly passed a decision when signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia that it must cooperate completely with the Hague Tribunal."

Brammertz: Arrests most critical issue

Arresting Mladić and Hadžić remains the most critical issue in Serbia's cooperation and must be accomplished as soon as possible, he said.

The arrests of Radovan Karadžić and Stojan Župljanin were the turning points, he said, pointing to improved cooperation among various services in planning and coordinating actions.

The two arrests came from improved efficiency and coordination among political, judiciary and security agencies entrusted with searching for fugitives, he said.

The work of the present services is hindered by shortcomings in the work of the previous ones, Brammertz added.

The chief Hague prosecutor said that during his visit to Belgrade in November, he was presented with action plans for the arrest of Mladić and Hadžić, adding that he expects positive results.

Positive results will depend on political support, and the international community's support will be crucial in the coming months and years, otherwise the work of the Hague Tribunal might be jeopardized, he said.

Serbia has also made significant progress as regards access to archives and documents and has responded to prosecution requests in most cases. However, some documents missing from archives, especially as regards the trial of General Momčilo Perišić, remain a problem, he said.

The Serbian National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal can play a key role in this regard, Brammertz said, pointing to the need for continued cooperation with officials in charge.

In Belgrade, meanwhile, council's head Rasim Ljajić told B92 that he believes the latest Brammertz report will not suffice to change the Dutch position. Holland is blocking the implementation of the suspended SAA between Serbia and the EU pending Belgrade's full cooperation with the UN war crimes court headquartered in The Hague.

The full text of the address is available here.

This morning, before the chief Hague prosecutor's spoke at the UN SC, B92's sources said that the report would differ from the one he sent before leaving for New York.

In Brussels, officials were saying that the chief Hague prosecutor's report could prompt the EU to unfreeze the Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia.

On the other hand, Holland still states that Serbia's must fully finish its cooperation with the UN war crimes court.

According to B92's sources, Brammertz's report was changed last minute, with Serbia's cooperation with the Tribunal deemed to be positive.

Serbian media have already published parts of Brammertz's report sent to New York at the end of last month which stated that Serbia has made substantial progress in cooperation with the Tribunal.

Brammertz said in the report that Serbia presented to him the operational plan for locating and arresting Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić and that Belgrade is working hard to fulfill its obligations.

The negative part of the report speaks of the lack of protection for witnesses who backed down from testifying at the Tribunal because of threats.

Reports this morning said that "it will remain to be seen if Brammertz will give a positive report to the UN SC even if Mladić is still at large, or if his report will be "essentially positive, but balanced."

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxim Verhagen said last night that Serbia has yet to complete cooperation with the Tribunal.

"It is clear that progress has been made, but, in our opinion, full cooperation is not present," he said.

He said that the best example of full cooperation would be the "arrest of Ratko Mladić, the man who is responsible for one of the biggest massacres in Europe since World War II," Verhagen said.

He did not want to comment whether he thinks that Mladić is in Serbia, and said that he is only observing "how Serbia responds to the demands of the Tribunal."

"We will wait for Brammertz's report, but the EU member-states must determine themselves whether the criteria has been fulfilled," he said.

Asked whether Holland's stance goes against the rest of the EU member-states on this issue, Verhagen said that the EU "jointly passed a decision when signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia that it must cooperate completely with the Hague Tribunal."