Distrust between Karadzic and Mladic

Retired general of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, Bogdan Subotic says at Radovan Karadzic’s trial at The Hague that the Prosecution’s allegations that VRS committed genocide against 7,000 Srebrenica Muslims in July 1995 is “a deceit, more than 50 per cent.”

“I could not say whether it is a complete deceit, but it is a deceit of more than 50 per cent… I cannot prove that,” said Subotic, who was Karadzic’s advisor at the time and Chief VRS Inspector and RS Defence Minister prior to that.

Prior to making these allegations, Subotic said that crimes were committed following the occupation of Srebrenica and that General Mladic went beyond the expectations of the political leaders, who expected him to put the enclave under the control of Serbs.

“That is what happened after the occupation of Srebrenica…He violated that, allowed… I do not know who allowed the commission of crimes. It was not the Supreme Command. It is not known and has not been determined whether Mladic allowed it or whether Erdemovic’s group, mercenaries did it on their own,” Subotic said.

The witness said that Karadzic did not have any pieces of information about any crimes being committed in Srebrenica.

Mladic, VRS Commander, is also on trial for genocide and other crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Erdemovic, who was member of the 10th Reconnaissance Squad with the Main Headquarters of VRS in July 1995, admitted guilt, in 1996, for having participated in the shooting of Muslim captives on Branjevo farm, near Zvornik.

The witness said that Mladic was an “intolerant”, “opinionated”, “stubborn” and a “narrow-minded” person “obsessed with himself”. According to the witness’ testimony, other members of the Main Headquarters of VRS were like that as well.

He pointed out that there was “a huge mistrust” between Mladic and his Headquarters on one side and Karadzic, as Supreme Commander, on the other.

“Mladic and his soldiers wanted military victory, while Karadzic and political leaders wanted an end to the war and results achieved through negotiations,” Subotic said.

As he said, in an attempt to “diminish Karadzic’s achievements”, Mladic “foisted completely untrue information about his work and actions on him.”

“He said in public that Karadzic was not his supreme commander and that he did not recognise his decisions,” Subotic said, adding that, in the summer of 1995 Karadzic tried to depose Mladic, but his decision was not implemented due to resistance from the Main Headquarters of the VRS.

The witness said that “Mladic could have occupied Sarajevo from Mount Igman”, but Karadzic prevented him from doing it.
 
“From the military aspects, Karadzic made mistakes many times for the sake of peace and survival of both Muslims and Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but from the human angle, he did an excellent thing,” Subotic said.

The trial of Karadzic, who is charged with persecuting Muslims and Croats throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, terrorising the local population in Sarajevo and taking UNPROFOR members hostage, is due to continue on June 20.