Bosnia Expels Serbian Diplomats Over Ratko Mladic Funeral
FlatRigor 5234 sources
The Story
Bosnia expelled two Serbian embassy diplomats on September 8 and suspended plans to sign a regional cooperation accord in protest over Belgrade's decision to hold a public funeral for former Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic. Mladic died on August 27 in The Hague, serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Thousands attended his funeral in Belgrade on Monday, with government officials among the mourners and the head of Serbia's Orthodox Church presiding. Bosnia's Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic stated that military attaché Milan Dulanovic and intelligence adviser Danko Maksimovic had 48 hours to leave the country. Konakovic also announced Bosnia would abstain from signing a memorandum on good neighborly relations and cooperation of the Western Balkan countries, scheduled for October 1 in Montenegro, stating, "With such a Serbia we will not sign documents on good neighborly relations." He criticized Serbia's handling of Mladic's death and funeral, including a banner displayed at a soccer match showing Mladic pointing towards Srebrenica. The funeral, which Serbia insisted was not a state event, included military honors and the presence of senior political leaders, prompting condemnation from European Union officials. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa called the images shocking and stated they demonstrated a failure to confront a dark chapter in Europe's history. Serbia's Justice Minister Nenad Vujic attended the funeral and said authorities helped maintain order. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic described the funeral as an emotional outpouring. In Montenegro, prosecutors opened a case against Metropolitan Metodije of Budimlja-Niksic for inciting national, racial, and religious hatred due to his public praise of Mladic during a service on August 28. Turkey also condemned the funeral, calling it unacceptable and stating it amounted to denying grave crimes.
The Spread
Flat
What they agree on
- Ratko Mladic, convicted of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, died on August 27 and was buried in Belgrade.
- Thousands attended Mladic's funeral in Belgrade on Monday, September 7.
- Serbian government officials and religious leaders were present at the funeral.
- European Union leaders condemned the funeral, citing it as a failure to confront past atrocities and a contradiction of EU values.
- Serbia maintained the funeral was a private event, not a state-sponsored one.
Where they split
- Bosnia's reaction is covered, including the expulsion of diplomats and suspension of a regional accord, while other sources focus on EU condemnation and Montenegro's legal action against a bishop.
- Some sources emphasize the presence of Serbian government ministers and military honors, framing it as de facto state support, while others, like RT, report the burial took place without formal state or military honors.
- Coverage varies on the extent of official Serbian government involvement, with some articles detailing the justice minister's attendance and the government's role in maintaining order, while others highlight Serbia's insistence that it did not organize the funeral.
- The role and statements of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic are presented differently, with some sources noting his absence from the funeral but describing his characterization of it as an 'emotional outpouring,' while others focus on his son's attendance.
Source Perspectives
Left3 sources
Center28 sources