Deputy Head of the British Mission to the OSCE: Serbia Must Respect Court Decisions — Glorifying Crimes Undermines Regional Stability

James Ford, Deputy Head of the United Kingdom Delegation to the OSCE, has stated that downplaying and presenting Ratko Mladić’s crimes in a favorable light constitutes an insult to international law, and called on governments and political leaders to avoid denying or revising crimes.

According to Ford, as a military commander, Mladić led operations during which some of the gravest crimes in Europe since World War II were committed; an independent UN tribunal convicted him of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Denying and downplaying his crimes directly harms regional stability and trust.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia was established by the UN Security Council, and Serbia, as a signatory of the Dayton Agreement, is obliged to respect its decisions and contribute constructively to peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

“The United Kingdom remains steadfast in its position that there should be no place for genocide denial or the glorification of war criminals… The thoughts of the United Kingdom Government are with the victims of Mladić’s crimes and their families,” the statement published on the British government’s website reads.

In closing, Ford emphasizes that at this sensitive moment for the Western Balkans, it is key that all governments and political leaders respect the independence of judicial processes and established facts.

Source: Danas