"Serbia's efforts on Mladić still problematic"

Serbia's attempts to finalize its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and arrest Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic are still problematic, according to a report. "Serbia's efforts to apprehend the two remaining fugitives remain problematic. This is the most critical outstanding aspect of Serbia's duty to cooperate with the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP)," the chief Hague prosecutor has said in his latest report to the UN Security Council, seen by WAZ.EUobserver. "Serbia's efforts on Mladic still problematic" The report, that is to be discussed internally and then made public in December, is being awaited less nervously then previous ones because the of the decision by the EU Council to forward Serbia's application for EU membership to the European Commission in October, easing tensions between Belgrade and international powers. Co-operation of Serbia with the ICTY still remains a condition for taking any further step in its EU integration process. The arrest of general Ratko Mladic, indicted for the genocide in Srebrenica, remains one of Serge Brammertz' chief concerns. "Notwithstanding the expressed commitment of authorities, including at the highest levels of government, to arrest the fugitives and the continuing efforts of operational services, few concrete results have been obtained over the past six months. A number of shortcomings in the way operations are conducted need to be addressed urgently," he wrote, repeating that responsibility for locating and arresting the two men rests with the Serbian authorities. "In the last Security Council report, after reviewing operations and in the absence of tangible results, the OTP encouraged Serbia to adopt a more rigorous approach to arresting the fugitives. It strongly recommended an in-depth review of the strategies employed and identified areas in which the Serbian authorities' operational approach, analysis and methodologies can be improved," he added. Brammertz wants Serbian authorities "to explore more expeditiously fresh leads and avenues in the search for the fugitives." "Without a more pro-active approach, results will not be achieved," he noted. The chief prosecutor also underlined that it is imperative for Serbian authorities to translate their expressed willingness to arrest fugitives into tangible results. "The Serbian authorities must fully and effectively mobilize all available resources and continue to give full support to the operational services that have been tasked with tracking and apprehending the fugitives," the document says. Brammertz assessed positively Serbia's responses to requests for access to documents and archives. As far as the co-operation of Croatia is concerned, Brammertz also voiced satisfaction with the timely and adequate response of Croatian authorities on access to documents and witnesses. He noted that Croatia has to continue to search for some missing military documents from the so-called Operation Storm, a military action in 1995, which are important for the case against Croatian general Ante Gotovina. "None of the outstanding military documents were provided to the OTP and no information was given regarding their possible whereabouts during the reporting period. With completion of proceedings in the Gotovina et al. trial, and a Judgment expected soon, the OTP urges the authorities to continue the administrative investigation and to fully account for the missing documents," Brammertz concluded on Croatia. The EU last week remained Croatia that continuation of full co-operation with ICTY remains one of most important criteria for the conclusion of its EU membership talks.

"Serbia's efforts on Mladić still problematic"

The report, that is to be discussed internally and then made public in December, is being awaited less nervously then previous ones because the of the decision by the EU Council to forward Serbia's application for EU membership to the European Commission in October, easing tensions between Belgrade and international powers.

Co-operation of Serbia with the ICTY still remains a condition for taking any further step in its EU integration process.

The arrest of general Ratko Mladić, indicted for the genocide in Srebrenica, remains one of Serge Brammertz' chief concerns.

"Notwithstanding the expressed commitment of authorities, including at the highest levels of government, to arrest the fugitives and the continuing efforts of operational services, few concrete results have been obtained over the past six months. A number of shortcomings in the way operations are conducted need to be addressed urgently," he wrote, repeating that responsibility for locating and arresting the two men rests with the Serbian authorities.

"In the last Security Council report, after reviewing operations and in the absence of tangible results, the OTP encouraged Serbia to adopt a more rigorous approach to arresting the fugitives. It strongly recommended an in-depth review of the strategies employed and identified areas in which the Serbian authorities' operational approach, analysis and methodologies can be improved," he added.

Brammertz wants Serbian authorities "to explore more expeditiously fresh leads and avenues in the search for the fugitives." "Without a more pro-active approach, results will not be achieved," he noted.

The chief prosecutor also underlined that it is imperative for Serbian authorities to translate their expressed willingness to arrest fugitives into tangible results.

"The Serbian authorities must fully and effectively mobilize all available resources and continue to give full support to the operational services that have been tasked with tracking and apprehending the fugitives," the document says.

Brammertz assessed positively Serbia's responses to requests for access to documents and archives.

As far as the co-operation of Croatia is concerned, Brammertz also voiced satisfaction with the timely and adequate response of Croatian authorities on access to documents and witnesses. He noted that Croatia has to continue to search for some missing military documents from the so-called Operation Storm, a military action in 1995, which are important for the case against Croatian general Ante Gotovina.

"None of the outstanding military documents were provided to the OTP and no information was given regarding their possible whereabouts during the reporting period. With completion of proceedings in the Gotovina et al. trial, and a Judgment expected soon, the OTP urges the authorities to continue the administrative investigation and to fully account for the missing documents," Brammertz concluded on Croatia.

The EU last week remained Croatia that continuation of full co-operation with ICTY remains one of most important criteria for the conclusion of its EU membership talks.