THE HAGUE REFUSED MEETING WITH REPUBLIKA SRPSKA DELEGATION REGARDING GENERAL MLADIĆ’S HEALTH CONDITION

BANJA LUKA, MAY 8 /SRNA/ - The President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in The Hague Graciela Gatti Santana has refused to meet with a delegation from Republika Srpska regarding the health condition of General Ratko Mladić, stating that she is currently unable to receive them, reads a statement from the Republika Srpska Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry had previously requested a meeting between Republika Srpska Justice Minister Goran Selak and the President of the Mechanism, as well as other relevant representatives of the institution, in order to discuss the medical care and conditions in which General Mladić is being held. The letter sent to the Ministry of Justice of Republika Srpska states that the Government of Republika Srpska had already addressed a letter to the President of the Mechanism, advocating for adequate medical care and the release of General Mladić for medical treatment within the ongoing procedure. "In that context, and in order to preserve both the appearance and the reality of judicial independence in relation to Mr. Mladić’s request, the President is currently unable to receive the delegation," the reply from The Hague reads. The Republika Srpska Government had previously also sent a humanitarian appeal regarding General Mladić’s health condition.