The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling and the Chief Prosecutor of International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Carla Del Ponte met today in Sarajevo.

Madame Del Ponte emphasised that Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Republika Srpska in particular, must be more proactive in tracking down war-crimes indictees and the networks that support them in order to meet its commitment of full cooperation with the ICTY. At present, cooperation is not satisfactory.

The High Representative and EU Special Representative supported the Chief Prosecutor’s position, reiterating that ICTY cooperation is one of the two areas in which he is prepared to use Bonn Powers.

The High Representative and EU Special Representative and the Chief Prosecutor considered mechanisms and measures to ensure that all authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina deliver fully on their international obligation to cooperate with the ICTY.

Concerning NATO’s invitation to Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the Partnership for Peace programme, the High Representative and EU Special Representative made clear he expects Bosnia and Herzegovina to live up to the confidence that has been shown in it to renew efforts to bring war-crimes indictees, in particular Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, to justice.

“PfP membership brings with it additional international responsibilities,” Mr Schwarz-Schilling said. “ICTY cooperation is a requirement that will not go away.”