Non-governmental organisations and politicians from the Balkans say that Ratko Mladic’s arrest can lead to “reconciliation and the full integration of the region”.

Mervan Mirascija of the Open Society Fund of Bosnia and Herzegovina says that Mladic’s arrest is “a very important piece of news for the entire region”.

“We are aware of more and more frequent requests for the completion of cases of war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia in the period from 1992 to 1995. This is esssentially one of the last cases that needs to be completed. It is one of the basic conditions for full integration in the region and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Mirascija said.

Mladic, the military leader of the Bosnian Serbs during the war there and one of the world’s most wanted fugitives, was arrested in Serbia on Thursday. On the run for more than ten years, he has been indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal in the Hague on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Natasa Kandic, Executive Director of the Fund for Humanitarian Law in Belgrade, says that the arrest is the most important event “in the political and legal field in Serbia”.

“Everyone had doubts as to whether it could happen. They had doubts over the instruments and the pressure by the European Union. Most importantly, the news was announced by Serbian President Boris Tadic, who selected the words and sent a message that this was Serbia’s obligation to international justice.

"An atmosphere for faster reconciliation in the region is created in this way. I think that it is important. It has a meaning for the victims and for those who see Mladic as a hero,” Kandic said.

Croatia’s Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said that "Croatia, as a victim of the aggressive policy of Slobodan Milosevic, welcomes Mladic’s arrest and also expects the arrest of Goran Hadzic."


"This is good news for us, for this part of Europe and for the world, but also for all the victims of Milosevic’s destructive policy."

Reuters quoted Kosovo deputy prime minister Hajredin Kuci saying: "This is a good signal for Serbia to show regret for the crimes that
 did happen, punish the perpetrators and close the chapter of confrontation and turn to the chapter of cooperation."


Albania’s Foreign Ministry "hailed" the arrest of Mladic in Serbia.

"The arrest of the ill-famed general, who is accountable for the murder of thousands of innocent citizens, is a testimony that all those who have perpetrated crimes against humanity will be, sooner or later, brought to justice."

"This is an extremely positive signal for bringing the war criminals before justice and in lessening somewhat the pains of the relatives of hundreds of thousands of innocent victims and of the deadly wars in former Yugoslavia."

The Albanian Ministry added that it hoped the arrest would lead to the arrests of other wanted persons and that the development would serve to improve relations among countries in the region.

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