It's a shame that the internet is a virtual medium, because there are a lot of people out there that I'd like to express my deep feelings of friendship to, and having spent the last two years here in Serbia, I'd like to do it in a truly Serbian way.
Serbia Closer To Mladic, Hadzic - Prosecutor
Belgrade | 20 February 2009 |
Vladimir Vukcevic
Vukcevic said Belgrade now showed the political will needed to arrest the two fugitives, adding that the report from Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz was “objective,” .
“I’m sorry there is no more mention of Mladic and Hadzic in the report except in terms of ‘incomplete cooperation’,” Vukcevic said. “That is a new term introduced two years ago. Previously, incomplete cooperation was due to a lack of political will, but now the political will is there and everyone is doing all they can to finish our cooperation.”.
The extradition of all war crimes indictees to the Hague court is one of the key conditions for Serbia to advance towards joining the European Union. The Netherlands, the country that hosts the tribunal, is blocking further steps by the Balkan state towards membership in the bloc unless all fugitives have been extradited.
He said that Serbia had “new evidence and astounding information” on the organ harvesting case, and was liaising with the Council of Europe on it. Serbia has said it has information showing that dozens of Serbs were kidnapped during the Kosovo conflict, taken to Albania and killed for their organs. Albania and Kosovo have denied any knowledge of the case.
(Reporting by Ljilja Cvekic)
2009-02-20 14:04:17