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Tribunal Prosecutor Believes Karadzic, Mladic Will Stand Trial
"I'm not optimistic about people being arrested under the present policy. Unless those (indicted) people are suicidal, they're going to keep out of IFOR's hands," Goldstone said.
Carl Bildt who is coordinating civilian peace efforts in Bosnia and the United States have both signalled that international sanctions could be reimposed on the Serbs unless there is progress on removing Karadzic from power. He is banned from office under the Dayton peace agreement but Western attempts to bolster political opposition to him in the Serb-held parts of Bosnia have so far borne little fruit.
Goldstone said he hoped a growing realisation that leaving key figures like Karadzic and Mladic at large could jeopardise the Dayton accord might prompt a policy change. "Clearly there's a danger that Dayton could fall apart. One sees already the attitude of the Bosnian government — the warnings, if not threats, that they may pull out of elections. We've got no political powers. All we (the tribunal) can do is try and be as persuasive as possible in getting the powers-that-be to ensure that orders issued by the tribunal are implemented. More than that, we can't do — only rely on the media and public opinion to increase pressure calling on those powers to act in a manner consistent with justice and morality."
Asked about the continued existence of the tribunal, which is strapped for cash and has been hampered by slow political progress in implementing the Dayton deal, Goldstone said it must carry on its task, or risk failing the victims in Bosnia. "The international community has created tremendous expectation, and...there is a huge danger that (failure) may have very serious consequences, not the least, the continuation of violence in the years ahead.
"I can think of nothing worse, nothing more inappropriate, nothing more dangerous than to raise expectations of people who are crying for justice and to let those expectations down."
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THE HAGUE, May 23 (Reuters) — U.N. war crimes prosecutor Richard Goldstone said today the two most prominent war crimes suspects would indeed face trial. "In my heart of hearts I believe sooner rather than later they're going to be e people can stand trial," Goldstone said. But he admitted he did not have much hope that Karadzic or Mladic would be arrested under current policies adopted by the Bosnia peace implementation force (IFOR). Under the Dayton peace accord IFOR can arrest suspected war criminals but has opted to do so only if suspects fall into its hands.
The Indictment Against Radovan Karadzic and Gen. Ratko Mladic
Berserkistan, May 21 · NATO Won’t Hunt Down Karadzic
Berserkistan, May 21 · Ratko Mladic Seen at Djukic Funeral
Berserkistan, May 20 · Bildt: Karadzic ‘Poisoning Political Atmosphere’
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