RUBIN:VERDICT IN BLASKIC CASE IS PROGRESS IN SERVING JUSTICE

WASHINGTON, March 3 (Hina) - The United States is sure that the verdict in the Blaskic case shows progress in the efforts the International War Crimes Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is making in bringing justice to victims of war crimes in Bosnia- Herzegovina, said a spokesman for the State Department, James Rubin, on Friday. "The United States welcomes today's verdict in the Blaskic case," Rubin said. "We believe today's verdict shows the progress that the international tribunal is making in bringing justice to the victims of war crimes in Bosnia," he added. Tihomir Blaskic was sentenced to 45 years in prison after the ICTY found him guilty on 19 of 20 counts cited in his indictment. "Blaskic is the most senior military officer convicted to date, but other senior military officials are awaiting trial, including a three-star General Radislav Krstic, Rubin added. He also reiterated that the United States was offering a reward up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of the Tribunal's indictees such as Slobodan Milosevic, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. Asked to comment on various reactions on the verdict in the Blaskic case, Rubin said they varied depending on from which ethnic group they came. "We support the tribunal's decision," Rubin stressed adding that "if we are ever going to have reconciliation in that part of the world, and ever going to have the opportunity for people in that part of the world to enter Europe, to integrate fully with European institutions, then we have to have individual responsibility assigned so that collective guilt can fall away," he added. People who challenge that principle, are relegating their peoples and countries to a not-so terrific future, the State Department spokesman said. (hina) jn ms