Lajčák and Gregorian Meet Esma Palic

“Seeing justice done in war crimes cases is high on our agenda,” the High Representative, Miroslav Lajčák told Esma Palic today. “We cannot allow the authorities of this country to avoid implementation of court decisions, or fail in their duty to punish war crimes and respect human rights”.

Esma Palic, wife of Colonel Avdo Palic who has been missing since July 1995, met today with the High Representative, Miroslav Lajčák, and Principal Deputy High Representative, Raffi Gregorian. Ms. Palic and the PDHR discussed the progress of her case before the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg and of attempts to find his remains. The PDHR informed Ms. Palic of the OHR’s efforts to bring to justice the remaining fugitives from the ICTY and to eradicate their support network.

“Mrs. Palic has been waiting far too long,” said the PDHR. “The RS Government has outstanding legal obligations to locate the remains of Colonel Palic, to bring to justice those responsible for his death, and to take action against those people who have obstructed the investigation.”

The RS Government has yet to implement fully the Human Rights Chamber decision in the Palic case of 2001, which tasks the RS authorities to carry out a full investigation into the facts of Colonel Palic´s disappearance, to bring those responsible to justice, and to make his mortal remains available to Ms. Palic.

Finding a resolution to this case has been hampered by the fact that individuals apparently linked to the Palic case remain out of reach in Serbia.

In his speech to Parliament on 6 September the High Representative announced a new initiative that will see the country facing up to the requirements of justice. BiH’s authorities will be expected to allow the BiH Prosecutor to enter into bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries on the exchange of evidence and information on war crimes, where the suspects may be located in Serbia, Croatia or Montenegro.

“I expect the competent authorities in BiH will demonstrate that they have the political will to reduce the widespread impunity that is enjoyed by many war criminals,” said the High Representative. “This is an obligation under the Dayton Peace Agreement”, he concluded.