“NATO’s communiqué highlights continued non-compliance of the RS authorities with the ICTY. It calls for the need to improve security and law enforcement structures, supporting the assessment made by the ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte at the UNSC earlier this month where she noted that there are fundamental systemic weaknesses build into the law enforcement and security structures in the RS” said the High Representative today commenting on NATO Foreign Ministers assessment of BiH’s readiness for PfP accession.
“While BiH has made progress on defense reform, this lack of compliance means that for a second time running, BiH failed to meet the requirements to join NATO’s Partnership for Peace” said the High Representative. “Once again, BiH’s failure to cooperate fully with ICTY is the main obstacle to this country becoming a stable, peaceful and prosperous European democracy” he added.
Recent revelations in both the domestic and international press that the RS Army continue to protect Ratko Mladic support the assessment of both NATO and the Chief Prosecutor. These revelations indicate that as recently as six months ago, General Mladic was sheltering in the military facility at Han Pijesak. This could not have happened without the systemic connivance of high-ranking members of the RS military. The very instruments that are supposed to catch war criminals are in fact protecting them.
“I am now carefully considering the implications of NATO’s assessment. I am also actively considering measures that will address the systemic deficiencies highlighted by both NATO and the ICTY Chief Prosecutor – this will take a little time” the High Representative said today.
The High Representative said that he will announce any decision after the Chairman of the PRC issues his assessment, on 16th December. “When considering what measures are appropriate, I will want to take into account the outcome of the work of the Police Reform Commission, which finishes on 15th December” he said.