BELGRADE, July 30 (Hina) - Defence Minister of Serbia-Montenegro, Boris Tadic, has said he possesses no information that one of fugitives, wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), General Ratko Mladic, is
staying in Serbia-Montenegro.
BELGRADE, July 30 (Hina) - Defence Minister of Serbia-Montenegro,
Boris Tadic, has said he possesses no information that one of
fugitives, wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY), General Ratko Mladic, is staying in Serbia-
Montenegro. #L#
"My job implies my continuos commitment to the objective of the
country's entrance into (NATO's) Partnership for Peace Programme,
and a part of that job is to carry out investigations into the
accused of war crimes. The investigation is being performed around
the clock and is not suspended for a second. I have no information on
whether Mladic (the war-time Bosnian Serb commander) is on our
territory," Tadic said in an interview to Wednesday's issue of the
Vecernje Novosti daily.
"The federal army's General Staff gives assurances to us that he is
not in objects under its control," the minister said adding that he
could not guarantee "if some surprising piece of information may
crop up".
"Definitely, we must extradite Mladic to the Hague-based Tribunal
or offer valid evidence that he is not on our territory. This is a
precondition for our entry into the Partnership for Peace. The army
will do its part of job," Minister Tadic said announcing some
changes in the army's personnel in the coming months so as to
establish a structure necessary for a reformed army of Serbia-
Montenegro.
(hina) ms sb