EU euphoria over Karadzic arrest

Senior EU figures have welcomed the arrest of former Bosnian-Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic.

Karadzic, one of the most wanted men in Europe who has evaded the Serbian authority’s attempts to arrest him since 1996, was captured on Monday and will now face trial in The Hague. 

Annemie Neyts, president of the pan-European ELDR party, called for a “swift and fair” resolution of the trial.

The Belgian MEP said, “Nothing will make us forget the 8,373 victims of the Srebrenica massacre caused by the forces affiliated to Karadzic and the three bloody years of war.

“But his capture represents the opportunity for Serbia to move forward and to take a step towards integration into the EU."

She added, “There is still work to be done, however, and ELDR encourages the Serbian national forces to focus their attention on the capture of Ratko Mladic, Karadzic's army chief throughout the Bosnian war, and to start a new era of peaceful negotiations between the Balkan neighbours and with the EU."

Terry Davis, secretary general of the Council of Europe, the Strasbourg-based human rights body of which Serbia is a member, also welcomed the arrest.

"The arrest is wonderful news," he said.

 “This man was responsible for some of the worst abuses of human rights in Europe in the last 60 years, and his arrest comes only a week after the commemoration of the slaughter at Srebrenica."

“The fact that he has been arrested by Serbs will make a huge contribution to improving the way Serbs are seen by the rest of Europe.” 

Further reaction came from European commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and other key EU policy makers.

"I welcome the news...this is a very positive development that will contribute to bringing justice and lasting reconciliation in the Western Balkans. It proves the determination of the new Serbian government to achieve full co-operation with the ICTY. It is also very important for Serbia's European aspirations."

Enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn said, "This is certainly a milestone in Serbia's co-operation with the international criminal tribunal on the former Yugoslavia. It proves the determination of the new government to achieve full co-operation with the tribunal."

Javier Solana, EU foreign policy chief, said, "This is excellent news. The place where Radovan Karadzic belongs is in front of the tribunal in The Hague, having a fair trial and responding to the crimes of which he is accused. It shows the commitment of the new Serbian government to co-operate with international organisations."

Meanwhile, the International Center for Transitional Justice called the arrest a “major step” by Serbia toward facing its past.

The ICTJ said both Serbia and the EU should not see the arrest as “closing the book but rather as the beginning” of Serbia addressing its history.

“In finally showing the political will to make this crucial arrest, we hope that Serbia acted not just to satisfy the EU but because it recognized the importance of accountability and justice,” said Dick Oosting, Europe director of the ICTJ.

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