PRESS RELEASE

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CONVINCED THAT JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED, FOLLOWING MLADIĆ VERDICT

United Nations Headquarters, New York, 22 November 2017 — The President of the 72nd session of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, is convinced that justice has been served, following the conviction of former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladić on multiple counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

“This is proof that one can delay justice but not escape it,” President Lajčák said. He added that the verdict sends a very important message to the mothers of Srebrenica and others who suffered at the hands of Mr. Mladić.

President Lajčák served as the High Representative of the International Community and European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2007 to 2009. In that capacity, he visited Srebrenica several times and met with the families of the victims.

“I have personally witnessed and felt the despair in Srebrenica. I hope this ruling will help lift the anguish and impart some sense of justice,” President Lajčák said. “Mr. Mladić personified the horrific nature of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the validity of this decision cannot be questioned by anyone.”

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For more information and media inquiries, please contact:

Brenden Varma, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, +1-212-963-7238, +1-347-556-3433, varmab@un.org

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