Marta Kos Condemns Glorification of War Criminals After Ratko Mladić’s Funeral

European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos condemned in the European Parliament the glorification of war criminals in Serbia, following the funeral of former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladić.

Opening the debate on the funeral and confronting war crimes, Kos said the images from the ceremony were “deeply disturbing” and demonstrated, in her view, Serbia’s difficulty in facing its past.

“The glorification of war criminals and the denial of genocide is incompatible with European values and has no place in the EU,” Kos declared, stressing that Serbia has an important role and responsibility in the stability of the Western Balkans.

She particularly criticized the participation in the funeral of Serbian ministers, officials and army representatives, together with leaders and politicians of Republika Srpska, who honored Mladić.

According to Kos, it is incomprehensible that a person responsible for grave crimes be presented as a hero. She called on Serbian authorities and other actors in the region to contribute to reconciliation and to building good neighborly relations.

However, the European commissioner stressed that the actions shown at the funeral do not represent all of Serbian society. She said she had received messages from citizens of Serbia and the region who oppose the glorification of war criminals and want a free, democratic and European Serbia.

“The dignity of the victims of genocide and war crimes cannot be negotiated,” Kos declared, adding that Europe does not ask Serbia to deny its identity or history, but to have an honest confrontation with its past.

Kos assured that the European Commission will continue to support Serbia’s European path, underlining that reconciliation and respect for European values remain essential for the integration process.