The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Serge Brammertz, on Thursday welcomed the arrest of Bosnian Serb wartime military commander Ratko Mladic and praised Serbia for its efforts in arresting one of the last fugitives sought by the Hague-based tribunal.
"I welcome the arrest of Ratko Mladic today in Serbia. We await arrangements for his transfer to The Hague where he will stand trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. We recognize the work done by the Serbian authorities, specifically the National Security Council and Serbia's Action Team, in apprehending Ratko Mladic," Brammertz said in a statement released by his office in The Hague.
Brammertz is currently meeting with prosecutors from the region on the northern Croatian Adriatic island of Brijuni at the 5th regional conference on cooperation in the prosecution of war crimes.
"With the news of the arrest, we think first and foremost of the victims of the crimes committed during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia," Brammertz said, adding that Mladic's arrest could have a positive impact on reconciliation in the region.
"Today is also an important day for international justice. Ratko Mladic's arrest clearly signals that the commitment to international criminal justice is entrenched. Today's events show that people responsible for grave violations of international humanitarian law can no longer count on impunity," Brammertz said.
Mladic was indicted by the ICTY in 1995 for genocide and war crimes committed during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war. He was on the run for 16 years.
