Mladic's Return to Serbia Draws Condemnation Across the Balkans

The return of Ratko Mladic's remains to Serbia has reopened a bitter regional dispute, with officials across the Balkans accusing authorities of glorifying a convicted war criminal.

Mladic, 84, died after suffering health problems while serving a life sentence in a prison in The Hague, Netherlands. His remains were brought to Belgrade, where plans for a ceremonial reception and state funeral have angered officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Croatia.

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The glorification of Ratko Mladic, a war criminal convicted by a final court ruling, is a direct blow to the values of the United Nations.

Mladic was convicted for his role in the 1992-95 Bosnian war, including the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, in which more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed. Denis Becirovic, chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina's tripartite presidency and its Bosniak member, said a state ceremony would glorify “one of the most brutal criminals in modern history.”

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This attitude toward a war criminal responsible for the genocide against Bosniaks is one of the cruelest provocations and insults to the victims of the genocide.

“The glorification of Ratko Mladic, a war criminal convicted by a final court ruling, is a direct blow to the values of the United Nations,” Becirovic said in a statement. He urged the European Union, the Council of Europe, the United Nations and other international organizations to condemn governments and institutions that honor convicted war criminals and take concrete action against them. He also warned that honoring Mladic could have unpredictable consequences for the region.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer criticized the plans during a meeting in Ljubljana with Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman. “Glorifying or promoting these individuals in any way will certainly not contribute to Serbia's progress or to greater mutual understanding among neighbors and in the region,” Kajzer said. Radman said a state ceremony would weaken efforts to strengthen stability and security in the Western Balkans and deepen existing divisions. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said burial and funeral decisions belonged to Mladic's family and that he would not attend because of a previously scheduled visit to Uzbekistan. A memorial ceremony is scheduled for Sunday in Belgrade, followed by a public display of the remains at a church on Monday and a procession to Topcider Cemetery.

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Glorifying or promoting these individuals in any way will certainly not contribute to Serbia's progress or to greater mutual understanding among neighbors and in the region.