Vucic: "The Hague wanted Ratko Mladic to die behind bars"

Photo: RINA

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said today in Osecina that The Hague-based tribunal wanted Ratko Mladic to die behind bars.

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He said that he has been in touch with Ratko Mladic's son for a long time and that the state tried to help as much as possible, but also to make sure he passed away in Serbia.

"It was clear, I said that he had seven days to five weeks left, as you can see we knew precisely, and those who did not allow it (transferring Mladic to Serbia) knew it even more precisely. There are several questions. The investigation that they are conducting, we were waiting for the Mechanism's conference this morning, but in the end it didn't happen. We still don't know anything," he said.

Vucic added that teams have been sent to The Hague to help with logistics and repatriation.

"Let's see what the family plans to do. I can't say anything for now, since we haven't received anything from The Hague. And everything I read in the media is not true. I also spoke with (Milorad) Dodik, we cannot say anything until we know what the family wants. We heard about the possibility that the general will be buried in Belgrade next to his daughter, but we still don't know if that will happen," said Vucic.

He then said that, "now we see that The Hague wanted him to die behind bars".

"They didn't want him to die in Serbia, which he wished for. It's unprecedented anti-civilizational behavior. These days, I am witnessing most difficult pressure, both from the region, as well as from inside the country and the world. Who among us would curse the late general more. I will not participate in that," said the president of Serbia.

He then said that he can guarantee that if the family wants him to be buried in Serbia, this will be done in a dignified way.

"Second, very important, the witch hunt they are conducting is not because of late General Mladic, this is because of the future and further pressure on Serbia. So, as I said, the sentencing of Hashim Thaci is on September 16. And, lo and behold, the 15th is our national holiday (Day of Serb Unity, Freedom, and National Flag)," said Vucic.

(Telegraf.rs)