Acting High Representative Raffi Gregorian expressed his full support for today’s joint EUFOR, NATO and RS Police action against the support network for fugitive ICTY indictee Ratko Mladic.
“We have been focusing all our efforts on the Mladic support network in BiH ever since the arrest of Karadzic last summer. Today’s actions are part of regional efforts to bring the fugitive Mladic to justice and lift the burden he places on the hopes of millions of people by refusing to surrender,” said Gregorian.
“The duty to cooperate fully with the ICTY is on page one of the Dayton Peace Agreement,” Gregorian said. “The OHR will continue to provide support to actions by international and local authorities to fulfil this legal and moral obligation,” he said.
While his senior officers have faced trial Ratko Mladic remains a fugitive from justice, despite calls by Serbia for him to surrender. “I can think of no more dishonourable act for an officer than to abandon subordinates in order to save himself,” said Gregorian. International and domestic security and law enforcement agencies are determined to fulfil their mandate. “Mladic has chosen not to turn himself in which means that he must be detained and transported to The Hague”.