Del Ponte: Serbia far from arresting Mladić

Del Ponte: Serbia far from arresting Mladić

Although she admits receiving ”new information” in Belgrade, pertaining to action undertaken to locate the fugitive general, Del Ponte says her estimate is that “the Serbian authorities are trying to dismantle his support network in order to force him to surrender”. However, she sees this as unrealistic, adding that in her opinion, “Mladić will never, never accept that”.

Del Ponte says her objection to the officials she met in Belgrade, Koštunica in particular, was the manner in which the operation to locate Mladić was conducted. She asked them to be as expedient in finding Mladić “as they were recently when they adopted the new constitution”.

Koštunica, however, remained ”very quiet and calm and told me they knew what they were doing and that I must trust them to capture Mladić, requesting patience and trust from us”, Carla Del Ponte says.

The prosecutor explained that Koštunica did not agree with her estimate it was impossible for the authorities to deliver Mladić, in light of the forthcoming referendum and the elections.

His answer, Del Ponte says, was, “Absolutely not, on the contrary! Mladić must be sent to the Hague, he will be extradited, the political circumstances have nothing to do with it”.

Del Ponte says she did not discuss the matter of Karadžić and the remaining four fugitives during her recent visit to Belgrade, as “Mladić remains her focus and priority”.

As for Karadžić, she says her team is the only party looking for him, since NATO is withdrawing from Bosnia, and EUFOR has no mandate to locate fugitives, while the local authorities were unreliable.

No extradition before elections

Ivana Dulić Marković said that Ratko Mladić will probably not be arrested and extradite before the next elections.

“I doubt that anyone will want to enter the campaign with Ratko Mladić having been arrested,” the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister said.

Dulić Marković said that a negative atmosphere should not be created over of this situation of whether Serbia will have its discussions for stabilization and association with the EU reinstated.

“The decision to continue the discussions is made by the ministers of the European Union on a proposal by the European Three. They will be meeting with the Hague Tribunal chief prosecutor on October 16-17, and then we will know a lot more about the situation than we do now.” Dulić Marković said.