JOVANOVIĆ: THERE ARE ALL REASONS FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO ACCEPT SERBIA'S GUARANTEES FOR GENERAL MLADIĆ

BELGRADE, JUNE 11 /SRNA/ - Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the FR Yugoslavia Živadin Jovanović assessed that there are all reasons for the UN Security Council, at tonight's meeting of the informal group on the work of international tribunals, to accept Serbia's guarantees and its request to allow General Ratko Mladić to receive medical treatment in Serbia.

Jovanović pointed out to SRNA that the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals has rather compromised itself with its one-sidedness and bias to the detriment of convicts from the ranks of the Serbian people, and that it has shown it is not an institution of justice, but an institution of discrimination against Serbs.

"There is no doubt that Serbia's stance on the release of General Mladić will have the support of Russia, China, and probably other members of the UN Security Council, and we will see if someone will take a different position and prevent a humane and civilizational decision," said Jovanović.

He believes it is high time that General Mladić is provided with humane treatment and adequate medical care.

"All these fabricated obstacles should be removed, and the man should be allowed to receive treatment like any other human being," said Jovanović.

He hopes that reason will prevail in the UN Security Council and that it will finally be understood that a hostile attitude towards General Mladić, under conditions where his life is seriously endangered, has no legal, and especially no civilizational basis.

At the meeting of the UN Security Council's informal working group on the work of international tribunals, scheduled for tonight at 9:00 p.m., Serbia will present its stance on releasing General Mladić for medical treatment.

It is expected that Serbia will point out that it has so far not received any response from the UN committee to the letter it sent regarding The Hague's refusal to allow Mladić to receive treatment in Serbia.

The President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals Graciela Gatti Santana rejected the request on May 14 to allow General Mladić to receive medical treatment in Serbia.

General Mladić suffered a stroke on April 10, and another one on May 2, after which his health condition further deteriorated due to serious neurological, cardiovascular, and nephrological health problems.

He has been in the detention hospital in The Hague since 2024, where he is receiving palliative care.

The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in The Hague has repeatedly rejected requests for General Mladić to be granted provisional release for medical treatment in Serbia.