Rasim Ljajic, who is also the head of the Serbia-Montenegro council for cooperation with the ICTY, said in his interview with the Bosnian daily 'Dnevni Avaz' that "there has been neither direct nor indirect contact with Mladic and no government member has negotiated with him".
Ljajic added that his country was facing silent sanctions of the international community due to indictees, wanted by the UN war crimes court.
If Serbia-Montenegro fails to solve some important issues in relations with the Hague tribunal in the coming two months, this will bear grave consequences for the country, Ljajic warned in the interview published in Thursday's issue of the Bosnian daily. He said that in such case he did not expect direct sanctions to be launched but silent diplomatic, political and economic isolation would very likely ensue.
The minister added that Belgrade was currently checking all possible information on Mladic, indicted for massacres during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war.
Ljajic said that Mladic had been the last time spotted on Serbian territory in June 2001 and since then there had been no traces. The authorities believe that he is very likely moving between Serbia and Bosnian Serb entity.
Asked by a reporter about the destiny of another 16 ICTY indictees, for whom the tribunal claims to be in Serbia, Ljajic said that talks had so far been held with a few generals who were advised to voluntarily surrender "so as to prevent the destabilisation in the internal affairs" but these contacts have not yet bring about results, the minister added.