THE HAGUE/ZAGRE, Sept 12 (Hina) - The chief prosecutor with the Hague war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia said on Friday she hoped former Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic as well as Croatian general
Ante Gotovina would be arrested and turned over to the U.N. court by the end of the year.
THE HAGUE/ZAGRE, Sept 12 (Hina) - The chief prosecutor with the
Hague war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia said on Friday
she hoped former Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan Karadzic and Ratko
Mladic as well as Croatian general Ante Gotovina would be arrested
and turned over to the U.N. court by the end of the year. #L#
Del Ponte briefed reporters about the priorities of her next four-
year term at the helm of the Prosecutor's Office.
She singled out the completion of all investigations in 2004 and
ensuring that all fugitive indictees are extradited. She said
Croatia's government had to transfer Gotovina to The Hague at once,
while Serbia and Montenegro had to do the same with Mladic. Bosnian
Serb authorities must extend full cooperation so that Karadzic can
be arrested, she said.
In this context, Del Ponte hoped she would be able to report to the
United Nations Security Council in October that countries in the
region respected Resolution 1503.
For the first time besides Karadzic, Mladic, and Gotovina, Del
Ponte highlighted the Srebrenica "five", who are charged with
genocide.
The chief prosecutor's third priority is her office's willingness
to facilitate and help judges achieve their goal to finalise all
trials in 2006 and appeals in 2010.
Del Ponte said her office was ready to start 19 trials, while 11
indictments referring to 17 persons called for arresting the
accused.
The successful completion of the Prosecutor's Office's work also
depends on the complete, true, and fast cooperation of all
governments in the region, as clearly stated in Resolution 1503,
she said.
Confident that the tribunal, local governments, and the
international community can contribute to the establishment of
lasting peace, the rule of law, and justice for all victims in the
region, Del Ponte said this week's exchange of apologies between
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and Serbia and Montenegro's
Svetozar Marovic was encouraging because it demonstrated a desire
for reconciliation which would lead to peace and democracy.
Reconciliation can be achieved only with the admission of crimes,
she said.
Del Ponte went on to say her mandate solely for the former
Yugoslavia would enable her to fully focus on the region, including
more frequent visits.
This especially refers to authorities in Banja Luka because the
Bosnian Serb entity has not arrested even one indictee to date, she
said.
As for the reaching of an agreement between the Prosecutor' Office
and the defendant on the admission of guilt, Del Ponte said
admission of guilt was very important for reconciliation and the
determination of the truth about what happened in the war.
She concluded the news conference by stating that the Hague
tribunal for the former Yugoslavia would not close down until
Karadzic, Mladic as well as Gotovina were tried.
(hina) ha