Bosnia: The Hague urges for Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic arrestments

THE HAGUE (3/10/2001)- The Hague has called for the "urgent" arrest of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic after the Republic of Srpska yesterday adopted a law on cooperation with the tribunal. To prove its sincerity, the Banja Luka authorities must extradite the former Bosnian Serb leader and his military chief since "bringing them to justice is a priority," tribunal spokeswoman Florence Hartmann said today, cited B92. The spokeswoman claimed The Hague has information that that the proceedings against both men "are being intentionally stalled, so the indictments against them will expire." Hartmann pointed out that war crimes indictments "never expire." Whilst denying there exists an order of preference for extraditions, Hartmann said that Karadzic and Mladic remain the tribunal's "priority," since they face the most serious charges, including genocide. The spokeswoman also called on the Republic of Srpska to allow Hague investigators full access to relevant documents, and uninterrupted access to witnesses, "not selectively as so far."

//Shqiptarja.com

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• Ratko Mladiç