OBLIGATION
When this issue of Pravda u tranziciji –
the fourth one – will reach its readers, Ratko Mladic
might be, but might as well not be in The Hague. On the
day of its publishing, the 25th of April, this cannot be
predicted, although recently many words were said in
regard to responsibility, at least related to the issue
of Mladic.
The thesis that this is the “last obligation of Serbia”
in regard to this tribunal is more and more accepted in
the public. If that is so remains to be seen. Certain is
only that Mladic is if not the last, then certainly the
priority “obligation”.
The fact remains, and it is also an encouraging one,
that exactly in these days Serbia demonstrates to have
seriously taken the obligation related to her own past.
And in its exit strategy The Hague Tribunal,
particularly since Milosevic’s death, leaves many
obligations to Serbia. This is a clear message to those
who hoped that the Tribunal’s exit strategy will mean a
grace period from – justice.
In the forthcoming period, the institutional confronting
with issues, the defense of integrity, consciousness and
dignity of a serious state will stand the exam of
maturity of its elite, but first of all of its citizens.
If someone undertakes to impale a two-year old child on
a bayonet, there is no such patriotism which can justify
such an atrocity. And it is exactly this type of persons
that will face justice and - with all respect for the
notion of presumption of innocence - will be sentenced
to adequate imprisonment.
Unfortunately, there are many such individuals remaining
free and therefore there are so many frustrations. We
are living in the same country with these people, on the
road to European future. European future establishes new
priorities for Serbia and Montenegro – cooperation with
the Tribunal and the strengthening of the War Crimes
Prosecution Office. It is no coincidence that the War
Crimes Prosecution Office is one of the priority
concerns of Europe. European partnership determines new
priorities for Serbia and Montenegro – cooperation with
the Tribunal and strengthening of the War Crimes
Prosecution Office. Europe defines these “homeworks” as
short-term ones. The consequences are – needless to say
– long-term ones.
Jasna Sarcevic-Jankovic
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