Statement of ICTY Fugitive Radovan Karadzic to Withdraw From Public Life

In his initial appearance at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Radovan Karadzic implied that U.S. Government officials offered him certain unspecified commitments in order to secure his withdrawal from public life.

Ambassador Holbrooke and we have repeatedly made clear that no agreement was ever made in which Radovan Karadzic was provided immunity from prosecution or arrest. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and other U.S. officials engaged in Balkan negotiations have re-affirmed this on numerous occasions.

In July 1996, U.S. officials negotiated with Serb leaders to obtain Karadzic’s signed pledge to withdraw from politics and public life. No commitments granting Karadzic immunity were offered in return.

The United States is fully supportive of Karadzic’s arrest by Serbian authorities, of his transfer to The Hague, and of his trial at the ICTY.

2008/613