Dačić: Hague obligation, but no priority

New Interior Minister Ivica Dacic does not see Serbia's cooperation with the Hague Tribunal as a priority. Dacic, SPS, was a guest in B92 TV's Impression of the Week talk show last night when he acknowledged that this cooperation is Belgrade's obligation. Dacic: Hague obligation, but no priority However, he went on to say that this was a job for the secret services, and not for the MUP, which he is now heading. The MUP is there simply to detain those persons on a request from the prosecution, Dacic explained, adding that the state ought to make an effort to prove in front of the UN court that the alleged crimes the indictees are wanted for – are not war crimes. "I don't think that the Hague cooperation is a priority, because, miserable is any state that makes this a priority – to cooperate with the Hague!", Dacic said. "However, it is this country's international obligation, and not only international. It is also my obligation as a minister, because there are laws. Even if I were to propose amendments to the laws that say there's no extradition, I believe there would be no support from the majority or the opposition in parliament," he added. Dacic explained that he was personally opposed to extraditions, and favored voluntary surrender. "I am calling on the Hague indictees to, in the interest of the state, consider voluntary surrender, however, the state should not take the side of the Tribunal in front of the Tribunal, but should make an effort and prove there were no war crimes," the SPS leader said. According to him, some Hague moves, such as acquittals of Ramush Haradinaj and Naser Oric, as well as "deaths and murders" of defendants in detention of this court, have shown that the tribunal "is not just", but that cooperating with this institution is "still necessary".

Dačić: Hague obligation, but no priority

However, he went on to say that this was a job for the secret services, and not for the MUP, which he is now heading.

The MUP is there simply to detain those persons on a request from the prosecution, Dačić explained, adding that the state ought to make an effort to prove in front of the UN court that the alleged crimes the indictees are wanted for – are not war crimes.

"I don't think that the Hague cooperation is a priority, because, miserable is any state that makes this a priority – to cooperate with the Hague!", Dačić said.

"However, it is this country's international obligation, and not only international. It is also my obligation as a minister, because there are laws. Even if I were to propose amendments to the laws that say there's no extradition, I believe there would be no support from the majority or the opposition in parliament," he added.

Dačić explained that he was personally opposed to extraditions, and favored voluntary surrender.

"I am calling on the Hague indictees to, in the interest of the state, consider voluntary surrender, however, the state should not take the side of the Tribunal in front of the Tribunal, but should make an effort and prove there were no war crimes," the SPS leader said.

According to him, some Hague moves, such as acquittals of Ramush Haradinaj and Naser Orić, as well as "deaths and murders" of defendants in detention of this court, have shown that the tribunal "is not just", but that cooperating with this institution is "still necessary".