FAILURE TO RELEASE MLADIĆ FOR TREATMENT WOULD BREACH INTERNATIONAL LAW

BELGRADE, APRIL 24 /SRNA/ – The Hague-based Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals would violate international law if it does not allow General Ratko Mladić to be released for treatment in Serbia, said Savo Štrbac, director of the Veritas Documentation and Information Center.

Štrbac stressed that, if the Serbian general is not released for treatment despite UN doctors confirming he is in a terminal condition, it would raise the question of what the President of the Mechanism, Graciela Gatti Santana, is doing in that position.

He said he believes international law will be applied and that the Serbian general will be released.

"Unfortunately, we saw in the case of Nebojša Pavković the condition in which he was released - essentially to come here to die. In The Hague, they wait until the very last moment, even the doctors who give opinions," Štrbac said.

Commenting on a statement by Croatian Chief State Attorney Ivan Turudić that releasing General Mladić "would send a very bad message, regardless of his health condition," Štrbac said he would be very pleasantly surprised if Turudić or any Croat had said he should be released.

"Who would say that in Croatia? Especially in this period of rehabilitation of Ustasha ideology, they would be exposed not only to public criticism but also to possible physical attacks," Štrbac said.

Responding to Turudić's claim that Mladić, who was once commander of the JNA Knin Corps, had not been held accountable in Croatia for alleged crimes, Štrbac said he had testified as a defense witness and refuted such accusations.

"He was not convicted, although he was indicted for certain events, including Škabrnja in Dalmatia," Štrbac said.

The family of General Ratko Mladić and his lawyer Dragan Ivetić yesterday submitted a request to the Hague Mechanism for his urgent release for treatment in Serbia due to his extremely serious health condition.

The request includes reports by Serbian doctors who examined Mladić this week, as well as UN doctors in the detention unit in The Hague, along with relevant legal standards and examples of similar cases.

The President of the Mechanism, Graciela Gatti Santana, has so far refused to grant him temporary release for treatment, stating in a previous decision that he was not in a terminal condition and that only in such a case could he be released from the detention hospital.