I welcome the ruling of the UN Criminal Tribunal against Ratko Mladic. This shows that the rule of law is working and those responsible for war crimes are held to account.
As Bosnian Serb commander, General Mladic was responsible for appalling crimes against civilians, including the murder of thousands of Bosnian men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995.
NATO helped bring to an end this dark chapter in the history of Europe. The Western Balkans are of strategic importance for our Alliance, which has helped to build stability in the region for over twenty years. We see the future of the Western Balkans in Euro-Atlantic cooperation and integration for those who want it.
I hope that today’s ruling will move the region further down the path of peace and reconciliation.