Del Ponte's Sights On Milosevic

Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte has said it is her wish to make life "more difficult" for Slobodan Milosevic and all other indictees still at large.

She was speaking during a visit last week to Hungary as a part of her on-going mission to meet relevant government officials from all countries neighbouring former Yugoslavia. Del Ponte is seeking the co-operation of all these countries to make the world "a much smaller place" for all indictees.

Although unwilling to detail particular initiatives under discussion, Del Ponte did confirm that one strategy did include identifying assets held by indictees outside former Yugoslavia. Del Ponte said she would take action to freeze such assets.

Del Ponte said her top priority was the arrest of the remaining 29 suspects publicly indicted by the Tribunal, as well as those on sealed indictments. In particular, she wants to see the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and Slobodan Milosevic - the three persons "most responsible for the most serious crimes committed since 1991 in the former Yugoslavia."

"Until Radovan Karadzic is brought to justice, it will not be possible for a lasting peace to take root in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I will continue to press SFOR to secure his apprehension and surrender to The Hague," she said.

Del Ponte said that 10 months on from the issuing of the indictment she was "dismayed" that Milosevic still remains in power and is avoiding international justice. Del Ponte insisted this situation "cannot be allowed to continue and I wish to remind the world that he is an indicted accused, who must be delivered to the Tribunal to face trial."