The chief prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal, Serge Brammertz, said today before the UN Security Council that "it is difficult to disagree" with those who claim that the Tribunal, which is closing at the end of this year, "did not achieve reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia".
"As we have seen in the last two weeks, crimes have left wounds that have not yet healed. Convicted war criminals are still seen by many as heroes, while victims and survivors are ignored and rejected. Painful facts are still openly denied or rejected by pointing to the crimes of others," said Bramerc in his latest report to the UN Security Council.
Asking the question "why reconciliation remains a significant challenge even today", the chief prosecutor said that "the reality is that there is still no true will in the region to accept the huge atrocities of the past and to move forward", adding: "Unfortunately, mostly among political leaders".
Bramertz assessed that "too many people listen to war criminals who hide behind claims of collective responsibility".
"On the contrary, we have always insisted on the principle of individual criminal responsibility. The fact is that the crimes were not committed by nations or peoples, but by individuals and, above all, by high-ranking political and military leaders. I will be crystal clear: No community bears responsibility for what these people did. Their guilt is theirs and theirs alone," said Bramerc.
He underlined that "there is still much to be done", because "many victims are still waiting for justice".
"The countries of the region need support, as before. They will not be able to achieve justice and reconciliation alone," said Bramertz.
The chief prosecutor said that the Hague Tribunal "leaves a rich and complex legacy", as "many victims and survivors saw to some extent justice for the enormous evils they suffered".
"We believe that our results are credible," Brammertz said, stating that the tribunal "has contributed significantly to the maintenance of international peace and security."
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