Del Ponte slams genocide ruling response

The chief Hague prosecutor slammed Europe's "muted" response to a landmark ICJ ruling.

Izvor: B92

Wednesday, 14.03.2007.

14:42

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Del Ponte slams genocide ruling response

Carla Del Ponte cited the ruling finding Serbia could have prevented the massacre of Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica and that it should have punished its perpetrators.

The court also faulted Serbia for failing to turn over one of the alleged architects of the massacre, General Ratko Mladić. But the ruling absolved Serbia of direct responsibility for genocide.

"The response of the international community, and especially the presidency of the European Union, to this ruling appears to be quite muted," Del Ponte said in statement.

Del Ponte said that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana issued a statement after the February 26 ruling which "made no mention whatsoever of the fact that Serbia was found in violation of the Genocide Convention. Instead, he applauded the fact that there is no collective punishment and that the highest tribunal in the world has closed that page."

Del Ponte added that Germany - current holder of the EU's rotating presidency - made a similar statement.

Del Ponte repeatedly has accused Belgrade authorities of not doing enough to arrest Mladić, who is thought to be hiding out somewhere in Serbia. Karadžić's whereabouts are unknown.

Del Ponte said she was concerned that neither fugitive would be arrested and brought to justice before the court is scheduled to be dismantled in 2010.

"This is truly a potentially devastating development given the tribunal's completion strategy," Del Ponte said, adding that she was "worried that we will never see Mladić and Karadžić in our custody. That would have a devastating impact on international justice and on our battle against impunity."

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