Yugoslavia: Kostunica promises war crimes law

BELGRADE (BBC - November 30)(30/11/2001) - The Yugoslav President, Vojislav Kostunica, has said the authorities in his country will submit draft legislation to parliament before the end of the year on laying down legal arrangements for co-operation with the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Kostunica also said he did not know the whereabouts of wanted war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic. The Yugoslav authorities have been called upon to apprehend and transfer all indicted war crimes suspects to the tribunal - as happened with the former Yugoslav leader, Slobodan Milosevic. Mr Kostunica's remarks came at the end of a two-day visit to London during which the British Government urged Belgrade to work more closely with the tribunal. Mr Kostunica made it clear there were some disagreements between the two sides, and these related primarily to Belgrade's lack of co-operation with the United Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague. When asked about Mr Mladic, Mr Kostunica told the BBC the wanted war crimes suspect was not in Yugoslavia and was not being protected by the Yugoslav army. Nor was the other wanted suspect, Radovan Karadzic. When asked if he would hand the two suspects over if he knew where they were, he said a law on co-operation with The Hague would make matters easier. "We have asked for more understanding, more patience in the efforts of our government to come to a legal basis for co-operation with The Hague tribunal. Yugoslavia needs really time and patience," he said.

//Shqiptarja.com

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• Ratko Mladiç