The High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling
Good afternoon ladies and gentleman. I had the pleasure today to meet with Carla del Ponte. I do not have to introduce her to you because she is very well known, not only here but also in the International Community and the countries around here.
I am very happy that we had a very constructive meeting together. We came to the priorities and as you perhaps know, I have yesterday already mentioned, the very high priority of the OHR is to take care that there is a very close cooperation not only between OHR and the ICTY, but between the Bosnian politicians and the ICTY.
You know that I have said that ownership by Bosnian politicians requires them to tackle things on their own; now the time of ownership has come. That also means that one of the highest priorities for progress this year is very close cooperation with the ICTY to finalise things that have not been done until now.
I now have to mention to you what has still not been solved. We had a very good talk about that, touching on the Federation and also the Republica Srpska. We had an interesting exchange of opinions. Yesterday I heard the opinions of the politicians in Banja Luka and so we reviewed that too.
This is a very important point as it is a precondition for the negotiations of the SAA. You have heard that these points are preconditions for Serbia and Montenegro also. I think we are in a good position if we see the very close cooperation that there is with the European Commission is supporting through their negotiations.
I think we also have other questions here, but these are the main questions. I think that the question of our time schedule needs to be finalised, and do so during the next year. My job as HR and yours as Prosecutor; I think we will be able to match our efforts and I hope we will both will be happy that we have done our job in a very good way.
ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte
Thank you very much High Representative. As you know I arrived in Sarajevo from Belgrade . It is a regular visit; I’m still travelling the region. Why? – Because I still have six fugitives; I still need to have full cooperation: that I do not have; that I do not have in Belgrade and that I do not have, Republica Srpska in particular.
I am very pleased after the meeting with the new High Representative. We will enjoy full support for our needs and full support for the help we need on the ground for our investigation teams.
I am still a prosecutor travelling around instead of staying in my office or in court at hearings – unfortunately, in completion of strategy as you know. But, I still have six fugitives and most importantly – Karadžić and Mladić. And can you imagine that since 19th April 2004 the Trial Chamber declared genocide in Srebrenica. So there is no doubt about it, it was a genocide in Srebrenica objectively. But the most responsible for what happened in Srebrenica – Mladić and Karadžić – are still at large.
I cannot accept that anymore. But, what I particularly cannot accept anymore are words – words and promises of full cooperation, cooperation that never comes. I said yesterday in Belgrade that what I need is concrete results. It is also what I am saying here, particularly in our meetings today with the authorities of Republica Srpska.
I had meetings with the International Community here in Sarajevo – EUFOR, NATO. It was pertaining particularly to Karadžić, the location of Karadžić. I need activity, proactive, finding more information, more intelligence. I do not know if Karadžić is in Republica Srpska, if Karadžić is in Bosnia and Herzegovina or if he is in Serbia and Montenegro . So I need to know in which region to focus the work to find Karadžić.
I can confirm that Mladić is in Serbia . I have been saying that, I think, for six years now – that our information is, still and again that Mladić is in Serbia . Karadžić, I do not know where he is. The only sure element is that Karadžić is in the region, but I do not know in which country.
So, as the High Representative said it is the last year, last one and a half years, in which we hope to finalise what we are doing here.
Thank you very much High Representative.
RTQs
Nick Hawton, BBC:
Less than a year ago Carla del Ponte, you said you would tell the truth at the end of last year as to why Mladić and Karadžić have not been arrested. Where is that truth or is it another deadline that is gone and missed?
ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte:
I think I explained in my speech at the Security Council the reason why Mladić and Karadžić were not arrested. I will not repeat it here. I think if you read my speech at the Security Council you can have exact knowledge of the reasons why they were not arrested. But, now I am looking to the future. I want them arrested.
Boris Grubešić, BHTV:
A question for the High Representative. It is obvious that the police and political structures as well as several others in Republica Srpska are not cooperating with the ICTY. Will the High Representative use his powers and authorities to force the police and political structures to do so? He does have the power to force them to cooperate and finally end this matter. It has been ten years since the end of the war and it seems inevitable that some of the indicted war criminals will not live long enough for us to see them arrested and in the Hague .
The High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling:
I think I only have to repeat what I said yesterday in Banja Luka . I do not use the Bonn powers of the High Representative in normal questions like legislature, correcting laws or amendments, in the question of administration, or removals, because these are cases that have to be done by the Bosnian politicians today.
But, I made two main exceptions. One was, if there is any danger to the Dayton Peace Agreement, the framework of peace in this country. And secondly, if there is any situation in which the cooperation with ICTY is in any danger or any doubt. I would them make full use of Bonn powers to correct it. These are the two main areas where I will act and I have to act. And I also assured that to the Prosecutor here, because of course she also asked the same question of me and I have to assure her that this is my positive way to answer. I can give you the same answer, answer in the same way, as to the Prosecutor. So there is no question about it.