Carla Del Ponte interview: 'My greatest motivation is the victims'
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Carla Del Ponte interview: 'My greatest motivation is the victims'
External relations - 27-06-2007 - 07:59
Carla Del Ponte. Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal
Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
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Carla Del Ponte at the EP on Tuesday
Carla Del Ponte, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal
Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, was in Parliament Wednesday to
talk to the foreign affairs committee about her work in pursuing
indicted war criminals. Only 4 remain at large - including Mladic and
Karadzic - and she believes a new Serbian government will cooperate.
Since being established by a UN Resolution in 1993, the tribunal has
indicted 161 people. Ms Del Ponte has been Prosecutor since 1999. She
told us about her work.
Born in Lugano in 1947, Ms Del Ponte made her name as an indefatigable
opponent of organised crime as a prosecutor in her native Switzerland
- often at significant personal risk - before being appointed to take
on her present role. This has put her in the front line in dealing
with some of the worst crimes in post war European history. Her work
at the Tribunal has been important in identifying and prosecuting
forms of warfare such as genocide and rape.
Q. What do you think has been the most important accomplishment of the
ICTY? Has it helped in the reconciliation process in former
Yugoslavia?
CDP: The most important achievement is that the ICTY has been able to
issue 161 indictments against those militarily and politically
responsible for the atrocious crimes committed in the former
Yugoslavia - the war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. It
is now common knowledge that Srebrenica was genocide. This is a big
achievement, the fight against the impunity of the powerful men or
women. It was an important achievement for the implementation of
justice, of the Genocide Convention and of the Geneva Convention. That
is extremely important.
Reconciliation is a much more difficult issue. Justice must be done,
but it's not enough to achieve a complete reconciliation; it's one of
the contributions, a component to reconciliation. Reconciliation will
only be when the population accepts the facts of the past and the new
generation is informed and engages for a future of peace and in
democracy. International justice is the first step, but we need the
local, national authorities to provide a second step in admitting the
truth, the facts of the conflict. A third step will be the educational
step by a new generation, in schools and universities. This takes
time.
Q. The EU recently resumed negotiations on a Stabilisation and
Association Agreement with Serbia. Does this mean that Belgrade is now
cooperating fully with the Tribunal?
CDP: Yes, in two weeks they delivered two fugitives who were extremely
important for us - and we were told that it was very difficult to get
them. So I'm asking them now to deliver Mladic and I hope he will be
located and transferred to the Hague as soon as possible. I think
finally with the new government Serbia has the political will to
cooperate with us, as not only were two fugitives transferred to the
Hague, but we also received a lot of documents we had been asking for
months as well as access to witnesses. So I think we are in a good
direction for being able to certify full cooperation - but I need my
four fugitives, without my four fugitives it will never be full
cooperation - especially Mladic, they can deliver Mladic!
I need the European Union, particularly in the next two or three
months to keep the conditionality (linking progress on an EU
Association agreement with Serbia to cooperation with the ICTY). If
they (Serbia) do not deliver the fugitives it will be the crucial
moment and the last moment. If I cannot get my fugitives this year I
think it will be extremely difficult if not impossible. I hope the EU
will support me as they have done before - despite different political
pressures.
Q. If in future, MEPs are asked to consider the EU applications of
countries in former Yugoslavia. What standards should they hold them
to?
CDP: I'm a prosecutor, I'm not involved in politics and I am trying to
stay out, although sometimes I go to the border...but I need to get my
fugitives, to have the co-operation to allow me to execute my mandate.
In any case I would say, if they (States of former Yugoslavia) are
hiding war criminals they should not be allowed to enter European
Union. We're not talking about low or mid-level fugitives but those
highly responsible for the most atrocious crimes. Let's see, it will
be in the near future.
Q. On a personal note, what is it that motivates you and has kept you
going through your career?
Well, firstly it is because it is my job. I have been a prosecutor for
many years. My greatest motivation is the victims of the crimes. You
can imagine that with war crimes, crimes against humanity...people
suffer in an incredible manner. I and my collaborators are very
motivated when we see that the victims see that justice is done, it's
incredible and that gives us a great motivation.
REF.: 20070622STO08192