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Foreign Secretary welcomes arrest of war crimes fugitive Goran Hadzic

Foreign Secretary William Hague said he looks forward to Goran Hadzic's swift transfer to The Hague so that charges against him can be heard in an international criminal court.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Serbian Authorities have arrested Goran Hadzic, the last remaining fugitive sought of the International Criminal Tribunal of the former Yugoslavia.

Speaking after the arrest the Foreign Secretary said:

“I am delighted by the news that Goran Hadzic has finally been arrested. This is an historic moment for international justice and for the victims of war crimes during the Balkan wars of the 1990s. Goran Hadzic has been on the run from international justice for years and is the last remaining fugitive sought by the International Criminal Tribunal of the former Yugoslavia.

“I hope that his arrest will mark the closing of a horrific and traumatic chapter for the people of the region. We look forward to Goran Hadzic’s swift transfer to The Hague so that the charges against him can be heard in an international criminal court.

“Following on from last month’s capture of Ratko Mladic, we congratulate the Serbian authorities on his arrest, and call for all parties’ continued cooperation with the ICTY in supporting the existing trials.”

Published 20 July 2011