UN BODIES TO BE ADDRESSED IF NO PROMPT OR POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM HAGUE

BELGRADE, APRIL 24 /SRNA/ – The prime ministers of Serbia and Republika Srpska, Đuro Macut and Savo Minić, discussed today the possibility of addressing UN bodies if the response from the Hague regarding the release of General Ratko Mladić for treatment is not positive or does not arrive promptly.

Serbia's Minister of Justice Nenad Vujić said that they will address the UN Human Rights Committee and the Committee against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, noting that UN rules on the treatment of prisoners state that if detainees or prisoners do not receive adequate medical care, this constitutes revenge rather than punishment. As he explained, this amounts to inhumane and degrading treatment of persons in detention or prison. Vujić emphasized that the early release of General Mladić for treatment would be on humanitarian grounds and in line with UN standards.