Contrasting views on Dačić and Hague cooperation

SPS leader Ivica Dacic position as interior minister will not affect cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, says SPS Vice-President Dusan Bajatovic. “The fact that Mr Dacic will be performing the duties of interior minister and deputy prime minister will not represent any unlawful, concealed cooperation or lack of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal,“ said Bajatovic, Radio Free Europe reports. Contrasting views on Dacic and Hague cooperation In the SPS vice-president’s opinion, that cooperation will unfold in line with the policy established by the government, and in line with the legal obligations undertaken with the international community. “If there are any differences of opinion on that issue, they will need to be considered within the government, and if there is no agreement, then the consequences are clear. Extradition? No, just handover,“ he said. Liberal Democratic Party MP Zarko Korac believes that Hague cooperation could suffer as a result of the SPS’s claims to the Interior Ministry. “The SPS literally views Ratko Mladic as a hero and defender of the Serbian people. It’s very interesting how Dacic intends to arrest the hero of the Serb people—that’s his definition of Ratko Mladic,” said Korac. Jovan Simic, until recently presidential adviser on Hague cooperation, told Radio Free Europe that the arrival of the Socialist leader will not alter the pro-EU government’s determination to meet all its commitments regarding the arrest and handover of the remaining three Hague fugitives. “One man will not be able to influence anything if the system decides, and sends out a powerful message that that is a priority. There’ll be no problems in that area with [Vojislav] Kostunica’s departure and the change in power in the secret and military security agencies, provided, of course, that these people are in Serbia,” said Simic. The new government has clearly outlined what its priorities will be, including the completion of Hague cooperation, saiys War Crimes Prosecution spokesman Bruno Vekaric. “I believe Dacic is a very rational politician who’ll play a team game. My view is that there won’t be any problems on that issue—it’s all part and parcel of the law,” he believes. Humanitarian Law Center Director Natasa Kandic said that she did not think that Dacic’s arrival at the head of the police would see any great changes in terms of cooperation with the Tribunal, as the police had not been greatly involved thus far in locating Hague fugitives. Neither does the former head of the security services during the Zoran Djindjic government, Goran Petrovic, believe that Dacic’s position as head of the Interior Ministry will have a great effect on Hague cooperation. Dusan Bajatovic (FoNet, archive)

Contrasting views on Dačić and Hague cooperation

In the SPS vice-president’s opinion, that cooperation will unfold in line with the policy established by the government, and in line with the legal obligations undertaken with the international community.

“If there are any differences of opinion on that issue, they will need to be considered within the government, and if there is no agreement, then the consequences are clear. Extradition? No, just handover,“ he said.

Liberal Democratic Party MP Žarko Korać believes that Hague cooperation could suffer as a result of the SPS’s claims to the Interior Ministry.

“The SPS literally views Ratko Mladić as a hero and defender of the Serbian people. It’s very interesting how Dačić intends to arrest the hero of the Serb people—that’s his definition of Ratko Mladić,” said Korać.

Jovan Simić, until recently presidential adviser on Hague cooperation, told Radio Free Europe that the arrival of the Socialist leader will not alter the pro-EU government’s determination to meet all its commitments regarding the arrest and handover of the remaining three Hague fugitives.

“One man will not be able to influence anything if the system decides, and sends out a powerful message that that is a priority. There’ll be no problems in that area with [Vojislav] Koštunica’s departure and the change in power in the secret and military security agencies, provided, of course, that these people are in Serbia,” said Simić.

The new government has clearly outlined what its priorities will be, including the completion of Hague cooperation, saiys War Crimes Prosecution spokesman Bruno Vekarić.

“I believe Dačić is a very rational politician who’ll play a team game. My view is that there won’t be any problems on that issue—it’s all part and parcel of the law,” he believes.

Humanitarian Law Center Director Nataša Kandić said that she did not think that Dačić’s arrival at the head of the police would see any great changes in terms of cooperation with the Tribunal, as the police had not been greatly involved thus far in locating Hague fugitives.

Neither does the former head of the security services during the Zoran Đinđić government, Goran Petrović, believe that Dačić’s position as head of the Interior Ministry will have a great effect on Hague cooperation.