Bosnia-Hercegovina foreign minister Elmedin Konaković announced the withdrawal of nearly all staff from the country’s embassy in Serbia following a public funeral held in Belgrade for convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić. According to the Szabad Európa South Slavic service, Konaković stated that he would cut diplomatic ties entirely if possible and work to lower relations to the lowest possible level, though the ambassador and consul remain in Belgrade because the Bosnia-Hercegovina presidency appoints them.
Belgrade Funeral for Ratko Mladić Prompts Diplomatic Retaliation
Ratko Mladić, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb army who died at age 84 at the end of August in a Hague prison hospital, received a military-style funeral in Belgrade. Thousands of people gathered Monday outside the St. Luke Church carrying Serbian flags and portraits of the general before a candle-lighting ceremony. Free bus services transported attendees to the funeral from most cities across Bosnia and Serbia. Konaković announced plans to penalize participating officials present at the service, including Željka Cvijanović, a member of the Bosnia-Hercegovina presidency who attended the event.
EU Cancels High-Level Visits Over Glorification of War Crimes
The funeral drew swift condemnation from the European Union, where Serbia maintains active accession negotiations. Marta Kos, the EU enlargement commissioner, canceled a scheduled visit to Serbia to avoid contributing to the glorification of war criminals. The European External Service released a statement Monday declaring that the glorification of war criminals, denial of genocide, and revisionism run contrary to fundamental European values and have no place within the EU or candidate countries.
Did you know? Ratko Mladić was convicted in 2022 by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague to life imprisonment for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, where Bosnian Serb forces killed 8,000 Muslim Bosniaks, and for atrocities committed during the siege of Sarajevo that left 11,500 people dead.
Historical Context of Ratko Mladić and the Yugoslav Wars
Born in 1943 in the village of Božanovići in the municipality of Kalinovik, Mladić pursued a military education and became an officer in 1965. He initially served in Skopje before rising to become the training chief of the 3rd Military District of the Yugoslav People’s Army. Following the breakup of the Yugoslav armed forces, he moved to Knin and then Sarajevo, eventually taking command of Bosnian Serb forces in 1992.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why did Bosnia-Hercegovina withdraw embassy staff from Serbia?
Bosnia-Hercegovina recalled nearly all embassy employees after Serbian authorities and officials held a large public funeral with military honors for convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić. -
What was the European Union’s reaction to the funeral?
EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos canceled her planned visit to Serbia, and the European External Service stated that war criminal glorification contradicts core European values. -
What crimes was Ratko Mladić convicted of?
A Hague tribunal sentenced Mladić to life imprisonment for the 1995 Srebrenica genocide and for civilian deaths during the siege of Sarajevo.
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