U.S. envoy: Serbian prosecution impressive

U.S. envoy: Serbian prosecution impressive

Vukčević said he was grateful for the support he and the prosecution office received from the U.S. “We strive to bring to justice those who have committed crimes against our people, first and foremost”, he said.

Willimsom said that he talked with Serbian Prime Minister and President, Vojislav Koštunica and Boris Tadić about the Action Plan, but given that its implementation is pending, he was not willing to discuss it in detail with the press. “They understand the gravity of the situation regarding the persons accused of war crimes, especially Ratko Mladić’s arrest. The U.S. and our EU partners want to see Serbia progress toward EU and NATO.”

According to Williamson, one serious obstacle on that road is the fact that Mladić is still at large and holding the entire country hostage. “I am encouraged with the conversations I have had and we will continue our close cooperation with the Serbian government, our EU and NATO partners and the Hague Tribunal in order to close this case”.

Williamson said he was impressed with the work of the War crimes prosecution and reminded that the U.S. government has invested over one million euros in the Municipal court’s Special department building reconstruction and equipment.

Humanitarian Law Fund analyses war crimes trials

The Humanitarian Law Fund (FHP) believes there is a consensus in Serbia among the politicians, the media and the War crimes prosecution that the links between the state security services and war crimes committed in Bosnia should not be made public.

In an analysis of the war crimes trials held in Serbia, on the occasion of the visit by the U.S. envoy for war crimes issues John Clint Williamson, FHP noted that the trials were organized in a professional manner, that the existing legal framework allowed for efficient work, as well as that the technical conditions were flawless.

On the other hand, the FHP objects to the law that does not permit for television broadcasts of the trials. This is “seriously jeopardizing any attempt” to replace the glorification of the war crimes indictees as Serb heroes with the culture of solidarity and empathy with the victims.

“It is evident that the media reports from the trials refrain from showing evidence revealing or pointing to the Serbian institutions involvement in the war crimes in Bosnia”, this non-governmental organization concludes.

The Fund believes there is full consensus on an alleged national interest not to publish facts and evidence on these links, in order to prevent the International Court of Justice from “establishing Serbia’s responsibility for genocide” and ordering Serbia to pay war reparations.

In its analysis, the FHP sees this as an attempt by the current political elite to create a parallel past and history, forgetting that the Hague tribunal has in numerous verdicts established the truth that speaks about the Serbian institutions’ involvement in the war crimes committed in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.