Serbian president postpones Bosnia visit
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 June 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Serbian president postpones Bosnia visit, 15 June 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/558bc51638.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 15, 2015
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic (file photo)
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on June 15 called off a visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina after a member of Bosnia's tripartite presidency opposed his trip over the arrest of a former Bosnian Muslim commander on Serbian war crimes charges.
Nikolic had been set to arrive in Sarajevo on June 16, his first official visit since 2012.
But Bakir Izetbegovic, the Muslim member of Bosnia's presidency, on June 15 called for Nikolic to delay his visit over the arrest in Switzerland of Naser Oric, commander of Bosnian Muslims in Srebenica during the country's 1992-1995 interethnic war.
Oric was arrested on June 11 in Switzerland.
Srebrenica is the town near where Bosnian Serb forces slaughtered almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys in mid-July 1995 in the worst massacre on European soil since World War II.
Announcing that Nikolic had been forced to change his plans, the president's office said he would only visit Bosnia "when all three members of the presidency will show unity and readiness."
Serbia, which accuses Oric of committing war crimes in 1992, has 18 days from the day of Oric's arrest to submit an official extradition request.
Based on reporting by AFP and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
