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.
Serbian War Crime Prosecutor Didn't Say 'Mladic is Out of Serbia's Reach'
Belgrade | 21 November 2009 |Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic says that the UN's Chief War Crimes Prosecutor Serge Brammertz did not say that Mladic is out of Serbia's reach as media reported.
According to Tanjug news agency, Vukcevic said that media have been misinterpreting his words.
"After my intention to inform the public of the difficulties that we have in locating, arresting and transferring [Ratko] Maldic and [Goran] Hadzic to the Hague, for two days now my imprecise statement has been interpreted to say that Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz stated in his latest report to the UN Security Council that Mladic is not within the reach of the Serbian security services," a statement from Vukcevic says.
Local media reported Vukcevic saying that Brammertz has written that Mladic is "not within reach" of Serbia's security services.
Serbian high officials believe that Brammertz is likely to give Serbia an upbeat assessment of the country's cooperation with The Hague based Tribunal in his upcoming regular report to the UN's Security Council on 3 December.
The report is considered of crucial importance for Serbia's EU aspirations.
The country's EU progress has been blocked by the Netherlands, whose government has blocked the unfreezing of a trade deal between Belgrade and EU before the two fugitives are handed over to the Tribunal.
Vukcevic added in the statement that the Action Team is doing everything to arrest the two remaining war crimes fugitives to the Hague Tribunal since it is a state interest, as he put it.
"I appreciate exceptionally the objective and highly professional position of Mr. Brammertz to help us with that job," he said in the statement.
