U.S. PREPARED TO REWARD ARREST OF WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS

SARAJEVO, Dec 9 (Hina) - The United States (US) is prepared to offer a financial reward for the arrest of people suspected of committing war crimes in the former Yugoslav region, U.S. special envoy for the Balkans, Robert Gelbard, said in Sarajevo on Wednesday. Gelbard told a press conference that the reward for people who can assist in the arrest of war crimes suspects was introduced on the basis of a law which was accepted by the U.S. Congress in September. The reward was modeled on measures which have already been used to apprehend terrorists and drug dealers. Gelbard confirmed the programme envisages rewards up to US$5 million, adding extant possibilities were being discussed with great attention. Gelbard commended the efforts of NATO's Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) in arresting persons accused by The Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), especially the outstanding efforts of U.S., British, and Dutch soldiers. The U.S. diplomat refuted accusations from some Republika Srpska (RS) officials that SFOR members had exceeded their mandate with the recent arrest of Radislav Krstic, a RS Army General. Gelbard confirmed that he discussed the matter with RS President Nikola Poplasen, who complained about the existence of so called secret indictments. The special envoy said he suggested that Poplasen help with the surrender of persons who have already been publicly indicted, so that there would be no need for secret indictments. It was a reasonable suggestion to which I did not receive any response, Gelbard said. (hina) jn ab/ha