Bosnia-Herzegovina

Karadzic queries gravity of Srebrenica massacre

Article published on the 2009-07-23 Latest update 2009-07-23 14:53 TU

Radovan Karadzic (R), pictured with his general Ratko Mladic, on Vlasic Mountain in April 1995 during the Bosnian War
(Photo : Reuters)

Ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has questioned the gravity of the Srebrenica massacre, one of Europe’s worst atrocities since World War II. Karadzic is accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in the deaths of up to 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and children there. They were massacred when Bosnian Serb forces pushed into the UN-declared safe haven in July 1995.

However, at a preparatory hearing for his trial before the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the 64-year-old has disputed the figures commonly quoted.

"Everything in relation to Srebrenica that has been presented so far is erroneous," said the psychiatrist-turned-politician, who was a central figure in the 1992-95 war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Karadzic said that “we do not have a clear picture” of how many people died, claiming that uncertainty surrounds “thousands of victims”. He maintained that many people listed as having died at Srebrenica died elsewhere during the war or are now living outside the country.

"We are convinced that there is a manifold exaggeration here," he said.

Karadzic was arrested in July 2008 in Belgrade after spending over a decade in hiding. His trial is expected to begin in September, although an exact date has yet to be set.

Karadzic’s feelings on Srebrenica emerged as judges at The Hague ordered prosecutors to find ways of speeding up the trial.

They are hoping that the charge sheet against Karadzic can be reduced. It currently covers 11 charges and crimes that are alleged to have been committed in 27 municipalities.

The prosecution intends to call 500 witnesses but on Thursday they were told that if they could not narrow the charge sheet down, the court could do it for them.

The court estimates that Karadzic’s trial could run until 2012.