Brammertz: Mladić remains priority

The arrest of Ratko Mladic and continued pressure on Serbia remain the priorities of the Hague Tribunal, Serge Brammertz says. The new Hague chief prosecutor told Brussels daily Le Soir that for him it was “hard to imagine” that the Tribunal would end its work before the remaining war crimes fugitives – especially Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic – were arrested. Brammertz: Mladic remains priority Asked if he thought Mladic was in Serbia, Brammertz said: “For the time being we have no reason to believe he’s not in Serbia.” As far as Karadzic was concerned however, Brammertz said that he had no information at all of his current whereabouts. He underlined that recently, immediately after the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence, he was forced to postpone his visit to Belgrade because “it wasn’t really the appropriate moment for talks about cooperation,” but he announced that he would “very soon” visit Serbia, which remained the main priority of his work. Brammertz also announced that he “will follow the path of Carla Del Ponte” and that he would continue to maintain pressure on public opinion to keep the issue at the forefront of people’s minds. “We know that some people want us to close the doors of the Tribunal as soon as possible,” Brammertz stressed. He also said that for him Kosovo and the Hague Tribunal were “two separate processes.” “Serbia is obliged to cooperate with the Tribunal on the basis of a Security Council resolution. That legal context remains unchanged,” he explained, adding that, as far as Kosovo was concerned, “it is obvious that that issue is very political, in the region, as well as in Serbia.” “I wish to create a partnership with the countries of the region, to talk with all the actors, to prove to Serbia that this unfortunate page of history must finally be turned,” he said. “We are in contact with the security services and the judiciary. I wish to continue cooperation with these services,” added Brammertz. The Belgian lawyer left the possibility open of narrowing the indictment against Ratko Mladic should he be brought to trial. “That is a matter we will certainly discuss,” stated Brammertz. Serge Brammertz (www.un.org)

Brammertz: Mladić remains priority

Asked if he thought Mladić was in Serbia, Brammertz said: “For the time being we have no reason to believe he’s not in Serbia.”

As far as Karadžić was concerned however, Brammertz said that he had no information at all of his current whereabouts.

He underlined that recently, immediately after the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence, he was forced to postpone his visit to Belgrade because “it wasn’t really the appropriate moment for talks about cooperation,” but he announced that he would “very soon” visit Serbia, which remained the main priority of his work.

Brammertz also announced that he “will follow the path of Carla Del Ponte” and that he would continue to maintain pressure on public opinion to keep the issue at the forefront of people’s minds.

“We know that some people want us to close the doors of the Tribunal as soon as possible,” Brammertz stressed.

He also said that for him Kosovo and the Hague Tribunal were “two separate processes.”

“Serbia is obliged to cooperate with the Tribunal on the basis of a Security Council resolution. That legal context remains unchanged,” he explained, adding that, as far as Kosovo was concerned, “it is obvious that that issue is very political, in the region, as well as in Serbia.”

“I wish to create a partnership with the countries of the region, to talk with all the actors, to prove to Serbia that this unfortunate page of history must finally be turned,” he said.

“We are in contact with the security services and the judiciary. I wish to continue cooperation with these services,” added Brammertz.

The Belgian lawyer left the possibility open of narrowing the indictment against Ratko Mladić should he be brought to trial.

“That is a matter we will certainly discuss,” stated Brammertz.