Diplomatic relations between Bosnia and Serbia are at an all-time low following the crowded funeral, complete with state honors, of Serbian General Ratko Mladić in Belgrade.
Bosnia has announced its decision to declare persona non grata, and therefore expel, two diplomats from the Serbian Embassy in Sarajevo and to withdraw most of its staff in Belgrade. "If I could, I would immediately sever diplomatic relations with Serbia. What I can do is work to minimize relations," stated Bosnian Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković.
Yesterday, according to police, at least 8,000 people gathered in Belgrade outside the church where the funeral was held, after paying their respects at the chapel of rest for five hours. Just as many, if not more, gathered at the cemetery and along the route taken by the funeral procession.
The general died on August 27 in detention in The Hague, where he was serving a life sentence handed down by the former International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity: he was recognized as responsible for the Srebrenica massacre, the four-year massacre during the siege of Sarajevo, and other mass crimes.
But none of these horrors were mentioned by the participants or the officiants, in a predictably celebratory ceremony, with a discreet but visible direction and presence of the state, despite repeated warnings from the European Union: "The glorification of war criminals has no place in the EU or in the candidate countries," Brussels warned. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić preferred not to publicly show his face—his son Danilo was instead present—and deserted the ceremony to receive the Uzbek president's state visit.
But, in addition to the leaders of the Republika Srpska and the Russian ambassador, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, at least three ministers were present, including the Minister of Justice, Nenad Vujić, making the presence of the State visible. The State, however, provided honor guards, logistical support, and guaranteed public order, with the declared intention of "doing the family's will."
Mladić was later buried next to his daughter Ana, who committed suicide at the age of 23 after discovering the horrors her father had committed . Mladić was allowed to say his last goodbyes to her after his capture in May 2011, shortly before boarding a flight to The Hague, where he was to stand trial.
(Unioneonline)