STATEMENT BY THE NATO  SECRETARY GENERAL ON THE DETENTION OF RADOVAN KARADZIC

I welcome the news of Radovan Karadzic’s detention in Belgrade.  I commend the Serbian authorities for this important act of cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.  I expect Mr. Karadzic to be extradited to The Hague soon in order to face trial.  A prosperous and stable future for the Western Balkans can only be built on justice and reconciliation.  Therefore, I encourage Serbia and the other countries in the region to continue their efforts to detain the remaining indicted war criminals still at large, including Ratko Mladic.