Joegoslavië-tribunaal zet druk op Servië om uitlevering oorlogsmisdadigers (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Radovan Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb leader accused of war crimes, is residing in Belgrade according to Carla del Ponte, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

The claim once again raises the possibility that elements in the Serbian establishment are protecting their old president.

"I received just last week information from a source, a credible source that even Karadzic is now in Belgrade. So Belgrade is now a safe haven for our fugitives", she said.

The allegation could have severe implications for Serbia's relations with the European Union.

The EU has repeatedly stated that Serbia and Montenegro has a prospect of EU membership but cooperation with ICTY is a prerequisite for any further integration.

After meeting Ms del Ponte in Brussels on Wednesday, the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, restated this position.

"It is the responsibility of all the countries in the region to fully co-operate with the ICTY and to do their utmost to arrest and help to arrest all the indicted individuals still at large", he said.

"The European Union is totally committed to the important work of the ICTY and to its successful outcome".

Ms del Ponte said that her investigation would not conclude until Mr Karadzic, and fellow suspect Ratko Mladic - also thought to be in Belgrade - are tried.

"I don't know how we can get them both arrested and transferred to the Hague, but we are expecting it".

Mr Karadzic is implicated in the murder of thousands of Bosnian Muslims and Croats.