The UK’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Dame Karen Pierce DCMG, summoned the Serbian Chargé d’Affaires to condemn the involvement of Serbian state and military officials in the funeral of Ratko Mladić.
Minster for Europe, Lord Wood of Anfield said:
“As a military commander, Mladić presided over crimes that are among the worst committed in Europe since the Second World War. He was convicted by an independent UN tribunal of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The denial and whitewashing of his crimes is an affront to international law and directly undermines regional stability and trust.
“The thoughts of the UK Government are with Mladić’s victims and their families. They deserve respect, compassion and accountability, not efforts to rewrite proven history. Political leaders and public institutions have a responsibility to look to the future, not to the past, and to act in ways that support regional reconciliation, not to reopen old wounds.
“The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia was established by the UN Security Council and Serbia is obliged to respect its judgments.
“That is why today we summoned the Serbian Chargé d’Affaires. Glorification of a convicted war criminal directly undermines trust, fuels division and is incompatible with the process of reconciliation within Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.
“The UK remains firmly committed to international justice, accountability, and lasting reconciliation across the Western Balkans and will continue to work with partners across the region and internationally in support of peace, justice and a secure and prosperous future for all communities.”