Byzantine Blog

Serbian Premier: EU to Start Procedure of Evaluating ICTY's Legitimacy

Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica requested that the European Union, after the acquittal of the war criminal, KLA leader Ramus Haradinaj, starts a procedure of evaluating the legitimacy of the ICTY in the Hague.

Kostunica told Tanjug that, since the EU "happens to have no special comment in regards to the rewarding of Ramus Haradinaj for the crimes he committed", the European organization should open a process of assessing ICTY's legitimacy.

ICTY Violates the Law and Mocks Justice

"If the EU ignores the grave violations of law on behalf of this court, and if the EU ignores the obvious mockery of justice by the Hague tribunal, Serbia must raise the question about the tribunal's work", said Kostunica, adding that Serbia's citizens have every right to be revolted by the ICTY.

Serbian premier reminded that the EU has exalted precisely the Hague institution as the key parameter to assess the level of cooperation between Serbia and the EU, and especially when it comes to continuing the talks about Serbia's accession to the European organization.

He stressed that this is why Serbia and EU have to evaluate whether the Hague tribunal, after issuing a liberating verdict to war criminal Haradinaj, can still be considered a legitimate court.

"How could such a court continue to be relevant in any way or form for assessing the relations between Serbia and EU", Kostunica asked.

"These are the most important questions that urge concrete and proper responses", Serbian premier said.