Assistant Minister of Justice Branislav Stojanović told the United Nations (UN) Security Council that Serbia is seeking the early release of former Republika Srpska Army commander Ratko Mladić, sentenced to life in prison for the genocide in Srebrenica and war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that it has provided all necessary guarantees for this.
As the Ministry of Justice announced, Stojanović “stressed the serious health condition of General Ratko Mladić and the refusal of the Mechanism to temporarily release him for treatment on humanitarian grounds, since he is clearly not receiving adequate treatment in prison in The Hague.”
Commitment to cooperation with the Mechanism
Stojanović stressed Serbia’s firm commitment to full cooperation with the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in fulfilling its mandate, noting that this mandate must be strictly implemented in accordance with the intent, timeframe and limitations set by the Security Council.
Referring to the semi-annual report on the work of the Mechanism, Stojanović pointed out to the members of the Security Council the delays in determining the location of the ICTY and Mechanism archives, the initiation of contempt proceedings, the creation of a legacy program, and increasingly restrictive practices regarding the early or conditional release of convicted persons.
The report, under the heading “other judicial activities”, refers to the Jojić and Radeta cases.
Serbia assumes responsibility and requests a review of the Mechanism’s decisions
“Serbia once again reiterates its readiness to assume jurisdiction over the prosecution in this matter and calls on the Mechanism to reconsider its decision not to transfer the case to the competent judicial authorities of Serbia,” the Assistant Minister of Justice stated.
In addition, as he added, Serbia once again requests that the Security Council decide that the convicted persons serve their prison sentences in the country of their nationality, under the supervision of the Mechanism or another body authorized by the Security Council.
