U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Daily Press Briefing Index
Friday, June 29, 2001
BRIEFER: Philip Reeker, Deputy Spokesman
Excerpts:
Q: Could you tell us what your view now is of Radovan Karadzic and General Mladic, what you might have to say in the wake of what happened yesterday to the Republika Srpska government about their being turned over?
And also, while we are on the subject of indicted war criminals, as I understand it -- somebody can correct me if I'm wrong because I'm not entirely sure I'm right about this -- but as I understand it, the President of Serbia, Mr. Milutinovic or something like that?
MR. REEKER: Milan Milutinovic.
Q: Is an indicted war criminal.
MR. REEKER: He is indeed the President of Serbia, and he was indicted at the same time as former President Slobodan Milosevic.
Q: What's your view? What is your view of the President of Serbia as well and --
MR. REEKER: He is an indicted war criminal. He belongs in the same place where his old pal, Slobo, is as we speak. So we will be watching for developments in that department too.
Just to bring others that may not be as familiar with the situation up to it, obviously Milosevic is charged in the indictment from the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. That was May 22, 1999, when that indictment was announced. He was charged with four counts of crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war based on actions in Kosovo in 1999. And, obviously, the War Crimes Tribunal can give you more details on that.
Also named at that time in that indictment are Milan Milutinovic, Nikola Sainovic, Dragoljub Ojdanic, and Vlajko Stojiljkovic. They were indicted at that same time. Obviously, there are other indictees, including some that you mentioned, David.
To sort of give the big picture, since we are focusing on this, the UN Security Council resolution that created the ICTY, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, charges governments of states in the region with the primary responsibility for apprehending persons indicted for war crimes and transferring them to the International Tribunal in The Hague. And obviously that would include Messrs Karadzic and Mladic, who also belong in The Hague with their old friend, Mr. Milosevic.
Q: Do you have any view that it might be more possible now to get them there? Either by a more robust approach from NATO, or by perhaps the fact that the people in Republika Srpska who may have relied in the past on some assistance or succor from Belgrade will no longer be getting it?
MR. REEKER: Well, I think we certainly have seen a very important move and a very symbolic move, because taking this step, I think again, will allow Yugoslavia to sweep aside some of the ghosts of the past and work towards their future. And I think others in the region are going to realize that there is an opportunity also to move forward by seeing that other indictees go to The Hague where they can face justice.
You know, we have pressed governments, both publicly and in diplomatic channels, to locate, to apprehend, and to transfer individuals like Mladic and Karadzic to the Tribunal, and we are going to continue our efforts along these lines to bring these individuals to justice. We have been very clear in our support for the ICTY, and the fact that the hunt for justice does not end, and that we want to see that carried through. We are not going to cease our efforts until we succeed in seeing justice carried out in those cases as well.
In terms of NATO, and you mentioned SFOR-- obviously the mission of SFOR is to provide regional stability, and one of their key supporting tasks is to support the ICTY in efforts against persons indicted for war crimes. And they work with the ICTY to continue to bring persons indicted for war crimes to justice. They have assisted in at least 18 successful arrests, and so I believe they will continue to do that.
Q: Do you know where Karadzic and Mladic are?
MR. REEKER: I don't have any information on that to give you at this point. They know where they are, and they know where they should be.