‘Most Important Event’ in Balkans Post-war History
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During a special address to the media in Sarajevo, Ahmetovic pointed out that Serbia recognized the importance of Mladic’s arrest and decided to turn over a new leaf in its relations with the European Union and the countries in the region.
“We have waited for such a decision and an opportunity to welcome it for a long time. I congratulate the Serbian authorities for their determination to fulfill their obligations towards the Hague Tribunal and the Security-Information Agency and the Service for Uncovering War Crimes with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia,” Ahmetovic said.
Speaking about the arrest itself, Ahmetovic confirmed that Mladic was arrested in a joint operation conducted by official institutions of Serbia and the security services of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have worked together in the hunt for him for years.
“After such a big day, we can do nothing but hope that justice will be met through a verdict to be pronounced by the Hague Tribunal, which charges Mladic with gravest war crimes, including genocide committed against more than eight thousand men and boys in Srebrenica,” Ahmetovic said.
Ratko Mladic, former Commander of the Main Headquarters with the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, who is charged with genocide and other war crimes, was arrested in Serbia on Thursday after having been on the run for 15 years.
Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Aleksandar Dzombic gave a public announcement about the arrest, saying that he was convinced that Mladic would have “a chance to present his arguments”. He said that Serbia, the Serbian people and RS should not be held hostages by anyone who committed crimes.
“Nobody should exult over the arrest. On the contrary, everyone should fulfill their obligations related to the arrest of war criminals, so all of the crimes committed against the Serb people can be processed. Only in that way can we achieve reconciliation and have an opportunity to build a joint future,” Dzombic said.
Janko Velimirovic, Director of the Republic Centre for Investigation of War Crimes, thinks that the RS institutions must offer the necessary help to Ratko Mladic’s Defence team before the Hague Tribunal.
“We expect that there will be an opportunity for presenting the arguments and facts in favour of the truth during the course of the court proceedings, so the malicious and distorted versions which existed during the course of the entire war can be denied,” Velimirovic said.
According to Velimirovic, “getting close to the truth about the happenings in Srebrenica” would be Mladic’s biggest trump.
Jadranka Kosor, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, said that Mladic’s arrest was good news for achieving justice and stability and peace in South-eastern Europe.
“Mladic is one of the biggest butchers of humankind. I expect that he will face justice and be tried soon,” Kosor said in Zagreb.
