EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos says the way Belgrade will handle the funeral of war criminal Ratko Mladic, known as the Butcher of Bosnia, will be a test for Serbia’s European journey that could also affect that country’s bid for membership.
Marta Kos, EU Enlargement Commissioner emphasized that, “Ratko Mladic was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The return of his body to Belgrade reminds Europe of the darkest pages in its modern history. The glorification of his death is incompatible with the values on which the road to the EU is built, which requires confronting the past, true reconciliation and respect for the victims of war crimes. The values that underpin our shared future are non-negotiable. I have decided to cancel the planned visit to Serbia.”
“A state funeral would be unacceptable“- said Irish Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne.
“It is a step that distances Serbia from the basic values of the EU” – said Belgian chief diplomat Maxime Prevot.
Earlier, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković warned Serbia that honoring the war criminal would be equivalent to closing the door of the European Union.
Mladic died on August 27 at the age of 84 in a UN detention center in The Hague, where he was serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly the Srebrenica massacre.
His body was returned to Belgrade on a government plane, where he was received with military honors with the archmort draped in the Serbian flag.
While Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujic said last week that Mladic will be honored with state honors, President Aleksandar Vucic stated that it is his family that decides on the organization of the funeral.
According to Serbian media reports, a ceremony is expected to be held on Saturday, while the funeral will take place on the outskirts of Belgrade on Monday.
