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Guest Commentary: July 4, 2001
The Extradition of Slobodan Milosevic
The Honorable Joseph Lieberman
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I commend the authorities of Serbia for, at long last, handing over Slobodan Milosevic to the International Criminal Tribunal. It is ironic, and perhaps fitting, that his arrest and transfer to the international court took place on June 28 -- one of the most noted dates in Serb history, when in 1389 the Serbs were defeated at the battle of Kosovo Polje, ushering in a period of Ottoman Turkish rule. It is my hope that future generations of Serbs will remember June 28, 2001 with the same sense of historic importance and as the beginning of true and long-lasting democracy and respect for the rule of law.
Mr. Milosevic has been charged by an independent, impartial, international criminal tribunal with crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war against the ethnic Albanian population of Kosovo. And according to the Prosecutor of the Tribunal, we can expect more indictments against him for earlier crimes in Croatia and Bosnia.
His extradition to the Hague is historic, if long overdue. As a former head of state, there were many who believed that he would never be made to answer for the charges against him. That this day finally came underscores the commitment of the international community to investigating and prosecuting individuals for war crimes. And it sets an important precedent in international law; namely, that the Geneva Conventions and their Protocols will be upheld and enforced regardless of one's position or influence. The message in all of this is clear and inspiring: with patience and perseverance, democracy and the rule of law will prevail.
Serbian Prime Minister Djindjic deserves praise for his leadership on this issue and for recognizing that if Serbia wants to join the democratic family of nations, then it must uphold and respect the rule of law. Many others have contributed their efforts over the years leading up to this historic day and deserve mention: former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, U.S. Ambassador-at-large for War Crimes, David Scheffer, and ICTY Prosecutors Justice Louise Arbour and Carla Del Ponte, to name just a few.
The wars that tore apart the former Yugoslavia--and which threaten Macedonia today -- were largely, although not exclusively, of Mr. Milosevic's doing. He fomented extreme ethnic nationalism and unleashed his army and special police forces on the civilian populations of Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. Millions of people were driven from their homes and more than a quarter of a million are believed to have died. For his policies he earned himself the name, "the Butcher of Belgrade." His victims deserve accountability and his former citizens deserve to know what was done in their name.
It must be stressed that the Serb people are not on trial; only Mr. Milosevic. The United States seeks friendship and partnership with all of the people of the former Yugoslavia. Our presence and contributions at the donor's conference are evidence of our intentions.
Yet while we welcome yesterday's developments, we must also not forget that 26 accused remain on the run, most of them in Bosnia and Serbia. I call on the accused to turn themselves over to the jurisdiction of the Tribunal to answer the charges against them without further delay. It is the honorable thing to do. But failing this, the local authorities must take swift and decisive action, if necessary with the support of international peacekeeping troops, to deliver these fugitives from justice to the court in the Hague. There will never be long-lasting peace and stability in the region so long as these individuals remain on the run. The fact that they have evaded justice for so long -- in the case of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic it's already six year -- makes a mockery of justice and it must end.
Note: This column has been adapted from a speech Sen. Lieberman delivered on the floor of the Senate, June 29, 2001.
 How to contact Senator Joe Lieberman (D-Connecticut)
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