EU blasts Serbia over ‘Butcher of Bosnia’ funeral
"The glorification of war criminals" goes against EU vales, says enlargement commissioner.
The European Union has expressed concern over Serbia's public funeral arrangements for Ratko Mladić, the notorious Bosnian Serb war criminal dubbed "The Butcher of Bosnia." Mladić, who served a life sentence for crimes against humanity, passed away in The Hague last week. His remains are to be buried in Belgrade following a ceremony at the House of the Army, attracting a large crowd.
The EU's enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, stated that honoring a war criminal contradicts European values and is incompatible with Serbia's EU aspirations. The EU considers strategic alliances and common security policies as crucial elements, and they demand more than just implementing reforms. Serbia's government claims the funeral is organized by the Association of Retired Generals, distancing itself from involvement.
Mladić is responsible for the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre, in which over 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed. Despite controversy over his 2011 extradition to The Hague, Mladić was widely regarded as a hero in Serbia, with 40% of the population viewing him as such. The EU continues to monitor the situation and calls for reconciliation in the region.
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