Government of the Republic of Serbia

09/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/04/2024 07:43

Punishing war crimes of key importance for building trust in Western Balkans

Minister of Justice Maja Popović met today with Chief Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals Serge Brammertz, with whom she discussed the continuation of cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Mechanism.

Popović and Brammertz discussed the issues of the status of processing war crimes and regional judicial cooperation in those cases.

The Minister pointed out that punishing war crimes and achieving justice is of key importance for the normalisation of relations and building trust in the Western Balkans, and pointed out that the judicial authorities of Serbia have completed a large number of proceedings, which is the best proof that the Republic of Serbia leads a responsible policy, which is a prerequisite for stability in this part of Europe.

The two officials also pointed out the need to advance regional cooperation in the matter of clearing up the fate of missing persons.

The necessity of an equal approach to the prosecution of the responsible persons was particularly emphasised, regardless of which part of the former Yugoslavia they come from.

The meeting was also attended by President of the Serbian government's Commission for Missing Persons Veljko Odalović and Assistant Minister of Justice Vladimir Vinš, according to a statement of the Ministry of Justice.

Photos: mpravde.gov.rs