§ David WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the authorities of Republika Srbska regarding bringing Radovan Karadzic and General Mladic to the international War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague; and if he will make a statement. [4508]
§ Mr. MacShanePrimary responsibility for detaining indictees rests with the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We take every opportunity to raise this issue with the appropriate authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including in Republika Srbska. They are in no doubt of the importance we attach to co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal. I discussed this issue myself with political leaders when I was in Sarajevo on 12–13 July. I also told Bosnian Serb media that Karadzic and Mladic should be handed over to The Hague. We remain committed to ensuring that all of those indicted for war crimes in former Yugoslavia, including Karadzic and Mladic, are brought to justice.
§ David WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the failure by NATO forces to arrest Radovan Karadzic and General Mladic. [4505]
§ Mr. MacShanePrimary responsibility for detaining indictees rests with the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO SFOR troops are mandated to detain any indicted individual they encounter during their operations. To date NATO has detained 25 of those indicted, demonstrating its commitment to support The Hague tribunal's efforts to ensure that all of those indicted for war crimes in former Yugoslavia, including Karadzic124W and Mladic, are brought to justice. Of the 25 detentions so far, over half have been carried out or supported by UK forces.