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🇦🇹 Austria /Elections & Politics

Serbia turns Mladić funeral into a state spectacle

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources New plan
  • Serbia plans a military-honors funeral in Belgrade for former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladić, who was convicted of genocide and sentenced to life in prison in 2021.
  • EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled a planned visit, saying the glorification of a war criminal conflicts with the values underpinning Serbia's path toward EU membership.
  • President Aleksandar Vučić criticized Kos, despite having condemned those involved in the Srebrenica massacre in 2015, while saying he would not attend the funeral himself.

To the horror of the European Union and relatives of Srebrenica victims, Serbia is preparing a funeral with full military honors for Ratko Mladić in Belgrade. The former Bosnian Serb general, who died at 84 after several strokes, was convicted of genocide in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison.

Extremely brief, but stupid as usual

· Aleksandar VučićHe criticized EU Commissioner Marta Kos's explanation for canceling her planned visit to Belgrade.

President Aleksandar Vučić reacted angrily to EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, who canceled a visit to Belgrade planned for Wednesday. Vučić described her explanation as “extremely brief, but stupid as usual” and said that whenever something bad was said about Serbia, Kos was both its messenger and its author.

Kos said the “glorification” of a war criminal was incompatible with the values behind Serbia's route toward the EU. That route, she said, required confronting the past, genuine reconciliation and respect for the victims of war criminals. The planned funeral was scheduled for Monday at Belgrade's Topčider Cemetery.

The glorification of a war criminal is incompatible with the values on which the path to the EU was built

· Marta KosShe explained why she canceled her visit in response to the planned funeral honors for Ratko Mladić.

The article contrasts that position with reactions from Belgrade and pro-government media. Instead of focusing on Mladić's crimes and their victims, government newspapers have portrayed him as a national hero. They have repeatedly claimed that doctors at the United Nations prison in The Hague deliberately “killed” him through improper treatment.

Disgusted

· Aleksandar VučićIn 2015, he used the word to describe Serbia's reaction to those involved in the Srebrenica massacre.

The change in Vučić's position is also highlighted. During a 2015 visit to Srebrenica, he said Serbia was “disgusted” by everyone involved in the “monstrous crime.” In July 1995, forces led by Mladić systematically executed more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys after capturing the town, burying them in mass graves. Vučić now says Mladić will receive the burial he deserves and asks whether people should be barred from attending or whether the general should instead be buried “like a dog.” He said he would not attend the funeral because he had another presidential commitment on Monday.

Like a dog

· Aleksandar VučićHe rejected the idea that Mladić should be denied a public funeral or buried without honors.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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