Britain summons Serbian diplomat over Ratko Mladic funeral
The United Kingdom summoned Serbia's chargé d'affaires in London and expressed protest over the participation of Serbian state and military representatives in the funeral of former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic, convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office announced this. The meeting with the Serbian diplomat was held by the UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans Karen Pierce.
The British side stated that the participation of Serbian state and military officials in the ceremony, as well as the glorification of Mladic, contradict reconciliation efforts in the Western Balkans and undermine trust in the region.
UK Minister for Europe Lord Wood reminded that Mladic was found guilty by an independent UN tribunal of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
"Denying and whitewashing his crimes is an insult to international law and directly undermines regional stability and trust", — said the British minister.
London stressed that Serbia is obliged to respect the decisions of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, established by the UN Security Council. The British authorities also stated that political leaders and state institutions should promote reconciliation, not "rewrite proven history".
Thousands attend funeral
Mladic's funeral took place on September 7 in Belgrade. According to Sky News, thousands of people gathered near the Orthodox church of St. Luke with Serbian flags and portraits of the former military commander.
The ceremony was led by the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Porfirije. Mladic's coffin, draped with a Serbian flag, was carried by members of the Serbian Armed Forces, and a military band played during the ceremony.
Also present at the funeral were Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and the Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko. Free bus services were arranged for those wishing to attend the ceremony from various cities in Serbia and the Bosnian Republika Srpska.
Mladic died at the age of 84 in The Hague, where he was serving a life sentence. The international tribunal found him guilty, in particular, of genocide in Srebrenica in 1995, when more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed, as well as crimes committed during the siege of Sarajevo.
London stated that it will continue to support international justice and reconciliation efforts in the Western Balkans.
Based on: UK government, Sky News
