(28 Jun 1996) Serbo-Croat/Nat

Bosnian Serb army chief General Ratko Mladic, who's been indicted for war crimes, is continuing to defy the international community with public appearances in his stronghold of Pale, Bosnia

APTV has exclusive pictures of the general as he celebrated Vidovdan - or Army Day - just one day after the opening of the public hearing in The Hague against Mladic and self-styled Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic.

Mladic's appearance comes as a Serbian news agency report said that the general was seriously ill after suffering a stroke last week.

It was a military welcome for the Bosnian Serb commander General Ratko Mladic as he celebrated the fourth anniversary of the founding of his force and the Serbs' most hallowed day -- St Vitus's Day.

That is the day they were defeated by the Turks at Kosovo in 1389.

The ceremony took place at this well-secured headquarters in the hills around Han Pijesak in eastern Bosnia - about 30 kilometres east of the Bosnian Serb stronghold Pale.

Mladic, who has been indicted for war crimes, gave a speech aimed at boosting the morale of the gathered troops.

SOUNDBITE:
"I wanted to say congratulations in the glory of the army of Republika Srpska."
SUPER CAPTION: General Ratko Mladic, Bosnian Serb Army Commander

And the award of a medal to self-styled leader of the Bosnian Serbs, himself indicted for war crimes, was also announced.

Mladic spent some time posing with civilians, including children.

He is aware of the potential power of such images - when the Bosnian Serbs took the U-N safe haven of Srebrenica last summer he gave the children chocolates in front of the international television cameras.

Something his critics may see as a cynical propagandist ploy.

After meeting with his troops, Mladic spent time with Mitropolit Nikolaj, the head of the Orthodox Church.

The burly general then broke the traditional cake baked for the occasion and was addressed by the leading Serb Orthodox priest in the region.

His appearance came as a Serbian news agency report claimed he was seriously ill following a stroke last week.

The top civilian negotiator in the region, Carl Bildt, said he knew nothing about the claims.

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