Prosecutor Brammertz Concludes Missions to Western Balkans

Mr. Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), has concluded a concerted series of missions to the Western Balkans, including visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia.

Through meetings with senior officials from all four countries, events such as the annual conference of regional war crimes prosecutors, media appearances and engagements with the diplomatic community, Prosecutor Brammertz sought to bring visibility and attention to war crimes justice. He aimed to inject urgency and encourage a new dynamic, recognizing that almost three decades have passed since the end of the armed conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Prosecutor Brammertz also worked to achieve agreement and support for solutions to challenges in regional cooperation.

At the conclusion of these visits, Prosecutor Brammertz gave the following statement:

I am pleased to have had the opportunity in recent weeks to engage with a broad range of partners and stakeholders throughout the Western Balkans and discuss how we can together achieve more justice for more victims of crimes committed during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. I was particularly grateful to have been received by many senior officials, including Heads of State and Government, Ministers and Chief Prosecutors.

In all my engagements, my message was clear: there is still much more work to be done. Many perpetrators have not yet been held to account, and many victims are still waiting for justice. That is not to diminish the results that have been achieved: as I also consistently explained, more war crimes accountability has been realized in the region than for any other contemporary conflict. But the justice process must continue, and the task ahead of us remains of vital importance.

Without exception, the response I received was that national commitments to accountability remain firm. The countries of the region recognize their responsibilities and have a clear understanding that justice is critical, for the victims, for reconciliation and for the rule of law. Agreements were reached on concrete steps forward that will be backed up by political and technical support, including with respect to the transfer of cases involving unavailable suspects and accused from Bosnia and Herzegovina to other countries in the region.

Prosecutors and government officials reported that the assistance provided by the Mechanism Office of the Prosecutor is valued and having significant impact. They are requesting that our cooperation together be even further strengthened, recognizing the difference support from my Office makes in ensuring accountability. The mandate given by the Security Council to my Office to assist our partners is a tangible demonstration of how the UN and the international community are assisting Member States to achieve their national priorities for war crimes justice.

Of course, there are still many challenges, and I had open and frank discussions about them. For a number of years now, I have expressed my concerns that matters have not always been on the right track. The number and pace of trials have not been commensurate to what is needed. Many well-known suspects continue to enjoy impunity. In several areas judicial cooperation is effectively non-existent. And the glorification of war criminals and denial of crimes have moved more and more to the fore. I will continue the dialogue with our partners to identify objectively where we need to do better and the solutions that are available.

Over the course of my missions I saw signs of opportunities for a fresh approach. There are many new faces in positions of responsibility, particularly members of younger generations who seem less burdened by the past. Old views and ways of doing things may not have the same influence, particularly when the focus is on a better future. I encouraged all my interlocutors to move forward and resolve outstanding issues, and offered my firm support. I trust they will more fully meet their responsibilities to achieve justice for all victims of war crimes committed during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia.

Next year will mark three decades after the conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia came to an end. Victims and the public will ask what has changed in the time since, and what they can expect the next ten years will bring. It is my hope that our common message will be respect for the victims, continued dedication to justice and positive relations between communities built on the truth and reconciliation.

Prosecutor Brammertz visited Croatia from 1 to 3 September and met with he Minister of Justice and Public Administration, Damir Habijan, and the State Attorney-General of the Republic of Croatia, Ivan Turudić. He visited Serbia from 3 to 5 September and met with the President of Serbia, H.E. Aleksandar Vučić, the Minister of Justice, Maja Popović, and the Acting Chief War Crimes Prosecutor, Dušan Knežević. During his visit to Montenegro from 16 to 19 September, Prosecutor Brammertz met with the President of Montenegro, H.E. Jakov Milatović, the Prime Minster, H.E. Milojko Spajić, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, Ervin Ibrahimović, the Minister of European Integration, Maida Gorčević, the Minister of Justice, Bojan Božović, the Supreme State Prosecutor, Milorad Marković, and the Special State Prosecutor, Vladimir Novović. He also attended the annual conference of war crimes prosecutors from the Western Balkans region. Finally, from 23 to 25 September the Prosecutor visited Bosnia and Herzegovina and met with the Minister of Justice, Davor Bunoza, the Acting President of the Court of BiH, Minka Kreho, and the Chief Prosecutor of BiH, Milanko Kajganić, as well as victim’s representatives from all three communities and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council.