22 January 1998
TEXT: STATE DEPT. ON CAPTURE OF INDICTED BOSNIAN WAR CRIMINAL
(SFOR detains Goran Jelisic Jan. 22) (620)
Washington -- Goran Jelisic, a Bosnian Serb indicted in 1995 for war
crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY), was apprehended in Bijeljina January 22 by NATO-led
Stabilization Forces (SFOR), the State Department announced.
In a statement on behalf of the entire U.S. government (USG) released
the morning of the same day, State Department Spokesman James Rubin
noted that "The Serb authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been
unwilling or unable to carry out their obligations in turning over
persons indicted for war crimes to the International Tribunal in The
Hague. Therefore, this detention was carried out by SFOR and in
coordination with the ICTY prosecutor."
Urging all war criminals to "surrender voluntarily like the ten
Bosnian Croat indictees in October 1997," Rubin said the Jelisic
detention "was an action to bring to justice, under the rule of law,
those indicted for war crimes."
Jelisic is being flown to The Hague and will be placed in the custody
of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia,
Rubin said.
Following is the State Department text:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 22, 1998
STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN
USG STATEMENT ON APPREHENSION OF INDICTED BOSNIAN WAR CRIMINAL
Today, the NATO-led Stabilization Force, acting within its mandate,
detained Goran Jelisic in the town of Bijeljina, which is in
northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Jelisic, who is a Bosnian Serb,
is being flown to The Hague and will be placed in the custody of the
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Goran Jelisic was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal in
1995 and is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity, violations
of the laws or customs of war, and grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva
Convention.
The Serb authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been unwilling or
unable to carry out their obligations in turning over persons indicted
for war crimes to the International Tribunal in The Hague. Therefore,
this detention was carried out by SFOR and in coordination with the
ICTY prosecutor.
This action has taken place in accordance with the relevant U.N.
Security Councils Resolutions and the General Framework for Peace in
Bosnia and Herzegovina of the Dayton Accords. It stands as a warning
to those indicted for war crimes who remain at large that they will be
held individually accountable for their actions. They should surrender
voluntarily like the ten Bosnian Croat indictees in October 1997.
This was not an action against the Serb people of Bosnia. It was an
action to bring to justice, under the rule of law, those indicted for
war crimes. Mr. Jelisic will receive fair treatment under the ICTY
Statute and Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
The international community has repeatedly made clear that it believes
the surrender of persons indicted for war crimes is an essential part
of building peace and reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The
United States supports today's action by SFOR as contributing to a
lasting and sustainable peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
All persons indicted for war crimes, including Radovan Karadzic and
General Ratko Mladic, belong in The Hague in the custody of the
International Criminal Tribunal. Transfer of all indictees to the
Tribunal will remove an obstacle to more complete implementation of
the Dayton Peace Accords and open the door to increased cooperation
with the Republika Srpska. We stand ready to work hand-in-hand with
all the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to bring a just and lasting
peace to that country.
(end text)
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