Serbia and Montenegro Certification

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell has determined that he cannot certify to Congress that Serbia and Montenegro has met the criteria of Section 572 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2004. Section 572 requires Serbia and Montenegro to cooperate in the area of “access for investigators, the provision of documents, and the surrender and transfer of indictees or assistance in their apprehension, including making all practicable efforts to apprehend and transfer Ratko Mladic.” Serbia and Montenegro is not cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. As a result, pursuant to this Act as of March 31, new assistance for Serbia covered by the legislation will stop.

We call on the authorities in Belgrade to cooperate fully with the Tribunal by arresting and transferring their fugitive indictees, particularly Ratko Mladic, to face justice before the Tribunal.

If Serbia and Montenegro take action in the future, the Secretary is prepared to review such actions to determine whether they meet the requirements of the law.

2004/357