Press Release 112 2 Aug.

Statement by the Secretary General of NATO, Dr Javier Solana, on SFOR's action against an indicted war criminal On 2 August SFOR detained Radomir Kovac, who is indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY). He is now being processed for transfer to The Hague. Details will be provided in due course by the operational commanders. This action was undertaken in accordance with SFOR's mandate, which authorises SFOR to detain indicted war criminals when encountered in the course of its duties. This mandate was given to SFOR by the North Atlantic Council under authority contained in the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. The parties to the Dayton Peace Accords remain responsible for apprehending and transferring indicted war criminals to The Hague. SFOR will continue to do its part by carrying out its mandate in a firm and even-handed manner. SFOR's action reaffirms our determination to ensure that all persons indicted for war crimes are brought to justice. I strongly urge those indictees still at large to surrender immediately to the ICTY. SACEUR, as overall commander for SFOR, has kept me fully informed of this operation. I should like to commend the SFOR troops and their commanders for their courage, professionalism and dedication in carrying out this action, which will contribute to the continued consolidation of the peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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