Slobodan Milosevic - Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs
03/07/2001
"Ireland welcomes the arraignment to-day of Slobodan Milosevic before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague. The extradition of the former FRY President to The Hague was a courageous step by the authorities in Belgrade and a concrete and positive move towards lasting peace and reconciliation in the Western Balkans. Without in any way pre-judging the outcome of the trial, the fact of its taking place establishes the principle that no-one is immune from accountability for their actions, even as Head of State. In itself, this will be a powerful deterrent for the future.
"The transfer of this most prominent of indictees highlights the fact that several others, most notably Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, are still at large. We look forward to renewed efforts by national and international authorities in the region to remedy this."
Note for Editors
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia was created by the Security Council of the United Nations to bring to justice those accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. Ireland has consistently supported the objectives of the Tribunal. Most recently an Irish senior counsel, Maureen Clark, has been appointed as an ad litem judge of the ICTY.
