(24 Apr 1995) Eng/Serbo-Croat/Nat
An international tribunal established by the U-N to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for atrocities in the former Yugoslavia has formally named Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic as a war crimes suspect.
It has asked the judicial authorities of Bosnia to hand over their evidence against Karadzic and other alleged war criminals.
But there is concern that indicting Bosnian Serb leaders may affect international efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Balkan conflict.
Tribunal prosecutor Richard Goldstone's announcement in the Hague Monday could further complicate Balkan peace negotiations.
Justice Goldstone pointed the finger at three key Bosnian Serb leaders as possible of war crimes perpetrators.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The second investigation focuses on the hierarchy of the Bosnian Serbs in Pale, particularly on Radovan Karadzic the leader, Ratko Mladic commander of their army, and Mico Stanisic the former political head of their special police. My office is currently investigating the question of the responsibility of these prominent individuals for genocide, murder, rape, torture and the forced removal of many thousands of civilians from large parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including events which occurred in Prijedor and Bosanski Samac."
SUPER CAPTION: Richard Goldstone, prosecutor
Bosnian leaders welcomed the announcement and said those responsible for war crimes in the Balkans should be brought to justice, whichever side they came from.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I understand that some people do interpret this move by the Tribunal in The Hague that it would impede the negotiating process here. Well, the negotiating process is impeded anyway. It's not going very well as you know and I think that justice should be done no matter what, regardless of the negotiating process, regardless of everything."
SUPER CAPTION: Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic
SOUNDBITE:
"I think we all knew that our hands were getting dirty when we shook hands with Karadzic from the beginning of this peace process. Unfortunately, our hands continue to be bloodied by the fact that we shook his hand at the beginning. I don't wish to rule out any possibility but I think we should all realise right now who we are dealing with."
SUPER CAPTION: Muhamed Sacirbey, Bosnian Ambassador to U-N
Despite fingering Karadzic and two other Serb officials, it's unlikely the Tribunal will ever get its hands on them because of Bosnian Serb rejection of court authority.
Inhabitants of Pale, the self proclaimed capital of Serbian Bosnia, Monday remained defiant.
SOUNDBITE:
"That is nonsense. If anybody was a war criminal that is Alija Izetbegovic (the Bosnian President)."
SUPER CAPTION: Pale inhabitant
SOUNDBITE: (Serbian)
"Most probably you could call it that. But we have been pushed by resolutions and sanctions and we've never given up. This is just another form of pressure being imposed on the Serbs but we shall emerge strengthened from this."
SUPER CAPTION: Pale inhabitant
SOUNDBITE:
"And what are they? Who started this mess in the first place?"
SUPER CAPTION: Pale inhabitant
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