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NATO, IFOR and Tribunal Welcome Karadzic Resignation
But 'justice remains to be done,'
Solana praised the negotiating skills of U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke, who engineered Karadzic's demise, and said the way was now open to hold "free and fair" elections on September 14 in line with the Dayton peace accords. "We will remain cautious and vigilant that the Bosnian Serb leadership implements the statement and that Radovan Karadzic does not resume any political activity," he added.
An EU spokesman added that the European Union's position remained that Karadzic had to answer charges of war crimes before the international tribunal in the Hague in order for any lasting peace to take root in the Balkans.
France welcomed the resignation of Karadzic but pointedly gave credit to past European efforts as well as those of U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke. Holbrooke announced earlier in Belgrade after a bout of shuttle diplomacy in the past few days that Karadzic had resigned as president of the Bosnian Serb Republic and head of the ruling Serb Democratic Party.
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Jacques Rummelhardt told reporters: "The resignation results from the efforts of the international community, particularly of member states of the Contact Group (Britain, France, Russia, Germany and the United States), of (international peace envoy) Carl Bildt and, naturally, of emissary Richard Holbrooke. "We welcome this development which is in perfect harmony with the peace plan and will, in our view, help to hold elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"This new step demonstrates the determination of the international community that the resolutions of the Security Council and injuctions of the international war crimes tribunal are heeded."
"He will not be allowed to govern indirectly through front men or women...As long as Karadzic stays at the helm in (Bosnian Serb capital) Pale, fair elections in Bosnia are inconceivable."
Karadzic resigned with immediate effect as presidenof the Bosnian Serb Republic and head of the ruling Serb Democratic Party, led by hardliners trying to undermine the peace process. "The next decisive step is that Karadzic and Mladic must be brought before the international war crimes tribunal in the Hague," Kinkel said.
The U.N. criminal tribunal for former Yugoslavia welcomed news of the removal from power of Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, but said this was just "a first step on a long road. The stepping down of Karadzic is seen as both the end of something and the beginning of something else," tribunal spokesman Christian Chartier told Reuterss.
"The end of a long process triggered one year ago by the publication of the tribunal's first indictment. It is, at long last, consistent with Dayton (peace agreement), but only partly, as Dayton provides for the accused's arrest and surrender to The Hague. We also see this...as the beginning, a first step, on a longer road which must lead the accused to The Hague. It's an important step, but only one step," he said.
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BRUSSELS, July 19 (from Reuterss Bureaus in Europe) - NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana on Friday welcomed the removal of Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic from political life, but said his "proper place" was still in front of the Hague War Crimes Tribunal. "Justice remains to be done," he said in a statement.
Germany welcomed the news that Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic had resigned from office as an important step towards stabilising the situation in Bosnia. "Now Karadzic must give up his office without delay and withdraw from politics in the (Bosnian Serb Republic)," German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel said in a statement.
Berserkistan, July 19 · Karadzic Resigns, but Holbrooke Fails to Secure Serb’s Arrest
Berserkistan, July 19 · Karadzic Ouster is Partial Victory for Holbrooke
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