Del Ponte meets intelligence operatives

Del Ponte meets intelligence operatives

War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukčević who is a coordinator of the Action Plan for Hague cooperation, was also present at the meeting.

The Action Plan team informed Del Ponte about actions undertaken so far and plans for future operations.

Participants in the meeting agreed that the last two actions, one of which resulted in the arrest of Hague indictee Zdravko Tolimir, represented a move ahead in Serbia’s cooperation with the Hague.

While official Belgrade claims that Tolimir’s arrest was carried out in the Republic of Srpska, and that the action was only supported by the Serbian police, information at Carla Del Ponte’s disposal coincide with what Tolimir himself stated Monday before the Tribunal, claiming he was arrested in Serbia and than transferred to the Republic of Srpska.

According to B92’s sources that attended the meeting, Carla Del Ponte found it interesting that Action Plan coordinators Vladimir Vukčević and Rasim Ljajić, and VBA chief Svetko Kovač new nothing of the police action aimed at arresting Tolimir.

Following the meeting, Del Ponte reportedly congratulated Bulatović on successful extradition of Hague indictee Zdravko Tolimir to the Hague.

Del Ponte is expected to meet with Interior Minister Dragan Jočić and Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac later today.

Del Ponte's visit began Monday when she first met Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, who said that the political will and decisiveness to complete cooperation with the Tribunal existed in Belgrade.

“At the meeting, Del Ponte said that the Tribunal needs full cooperation from Serbia, with the goal of getting all indictees extradited to The Hague as soon as possible,” the prime minister’s press services stated.

According to B92’s sources, Del Ponte gave less praise to Serbian officials than expected regarding the arrest of indictee Zdravko Tolimir.

Immediately after entering Vukčević's office, Del Ponte gave him a poster with images of the five remaining fugitives, stating that all of them, with the exception of Vlastimir Đorđević, were located in Serbia.

“There are five fugitives left. Vukčević told her what the reality was and what can be expected, since Đorđević is in Russia, while facts indicate that Radovan Karadžić is not in Serbia. This is the direction the conversation went in, generally,”  War Crimes Court spokesman Bruno Vekarić told journalists.

It is expected that Del Ponte will report on Serbia’s level of cooperation when she returns to The Hague, after which a timeframe for continuing Stabilization and Association talks between the EU and Serbia will be confirmed.