[Nettime-bold] Re: Kostunica: ICTY compliance "when an Albanian is indicted"

["Ivo Skoric" <ivo@reporters.net>]

So, this is what Kostunica wants seeking 'reciprocity' - arrest of 
Albanian leaders. Well, that may actually happen. Obviously, since 
KLA crimes are newer than those of Ratko Mladic, the cases may 
not be prepared, yet. But I am sure that ICTY has in sight trying 
Albanian war crime suspects in Kosovo, too. After all, Del Ponte 
said that trying KLA suspects is indeed on ICTY agenda. 
Therefore, I just hope that this Kostunica's rant will be kept on 
record for the future reference. Because he is becoming notorious 
with his desire to have war crimes suspects of all other ethnic 
groups involved in the conflicts of Yugoslav succession (Croats, 
Bosniaks, Albanians) tried before the Serbs, despite that the Serbs 
are widely perceived as the earliest perpetrators. First, he wanted 
Croats tried, and ICTY complied, and Croatia co-operated. Then, he 
wanted Bosniaks tried, and ICTY complied, and Bosnia co-
operated. Now, he wants Albanians tried, and ICTY will likely 
comply, and Kosovo administration will likely co-operate. He is 
making Serbia look like the plaintiff in this case - which offends the 
rest of the Balkan peoples who expected Serbia to be the 
defendant. It looks so far as if ICTY is giving Kostunica a lot of 
slack. And he continues pushing it. I am not sure how far that 
could take either him or Serbia in relations with Serbia's neighbours 
and with the rest of the world. But his arguments are looking 
shakier and more unreasonably obstructionist as the time goes by.
ivo

Date sent:      	Thu, 29 Nov 2001 10:23:55 -0500
Send reply to:  	International Justice Watch Discussion List
             	<JUSTWATCH-L@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU>
From:           	Eric Witte <ewitte@CIJ.ORG>
Subject:        	Kostunica: ICTY compliance "when an Albanian is indicted"
To:             	JUSTWATCH-L@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU

Kostunica continues to be two-faced on ICTY compliance, continuing his
charade as a "legalist" and insisting on (unneeded) domestic legislation,
while here clearly making political conditions for compliance.  Kostunica
has not been the embodiment of rule-of-law, as he would have the world
believe, but rather since October 5, 2000, the prime force in Serbia
undermining the rule-of-law.

Eric Witte
Coalition for International Justice
-----------------

B92, 11/29/01

Kostunica urges true justice at The Hague
10:55 LONDON, Thursday – The Yugoslav president, in an interview with the
BBC in London, has urged the Hague Tribunal to indict Albanian leaders
accused of war crimes in Kosovo before Belgrade will consider handing anyone
over.

"When I see that the Hague Tribunal has indicted an Albanian, and right now
they are party leaders, when I see that, something that resembles justice,
then we will think about turning someone over to The Hague," Vojislav
Kostunica said at the beginning of his two-day official visit to Britain.

Yugoslavia has long held that Hashim Thaqi and Ramush Haradinaj, both former
commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army and now leaders of the second and
third largest Albanian parties in the province, should be indicted for their
role in the 1999 conflict.

Asked why he hasn’t extradited more war crimes suspects to the Dutch-based
UN International Criminal Tribunal, Kostunica replied: “I want a sign from
the international community and the Hague Tribunal that they are treating
Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks and Albanians the same.”

The Yugoslav president said that war crimes had been committed throughout
the former Yugoslavia but argued that so far, the Hague Tribunal has chosen
to apply only “selective justice.”

Commenting on the recent speculation as to the whereabouts of indicted
Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic, Kostunica said that, as far as he
knew, “he is not in Yugoslavia, and is certainly not under the protection of
the Yugoslav Army,” allegations made by the Hague chief prosecutor several
days ago.

He denied Belgrade was trying to shirk cooperation with the Tribunal:
Yugoslavia “has to cooperate with The Hague,” he said, reiterating that a
law regulating this cooperation is being finalised.

"The Yugoslav authorities are cooperating with the West concerning most
matters, they are cooperating with NATO, they cooperated successfully in
southern Serbia", said Kostunica.

Yugoslavia is one of the pillars of stability in the region, he commented,
and stressed the importance of maintaining the current borders.

In Kosovo, Albanian leaders are continuing to advocate independence – in
breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, warned Kostunica. He called
on the UN administration in the province to remind the Albanian community
that they are pursuing a campaign contrary to the will of the international
community.

The president added that the West also has a moral obligation to compensate
Yugoslavia for the damages inflicted upon it by the 1999 NATO bombing
campaign during the conflict in Kosovo. (BBC)

Ivo Skoric
1773 Lexington Ave
New York NY 10029
212.369.9197
ivo@balkansnet.org
http://balkansnet.org

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