Press Release . Communiqué de presse
(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)

The Hague, 10 January 2001
GR/P.I.S./552-E

Biljana Plavsic, surrendered voluntarily by arrangement to the International Tribunal in The Hague today, having been advised of the existence of an indictment against her and an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She flew to the Netherlands from Banja Luka, and is now in the Tribunal’s custody.

Biljana Plavsic, formerly a member of the Presidency of the so-called Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and member of the Supreme Command of the Bosnian Serb armed forces, is indicted for genocide, crimes against humanity, violations of the laws and customs of war, and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1991 and 1992. The indictment, issued under seal on 7 April 2000, alleges inter alia that she committed these crimes along with Momcilo Krajisnik, who is also currently in the Tribunal’s custody.

An initial appearance before a Trial Chamber is expected to take place on Thursday 11 January, and it will thereafter be the Prosecutor’s intention to apply to the Chamber to have Biljana Plavsic and Momcilo Krajisnik tried jointly.

The Prosecutor considers that it is the best possible outcome for Mrs. Plavsic to have surrendered herself to the Tribunal as she has chosen to do, and calls upon Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and all other persons similarly indicted to adopt the same course.

*****