Accessibility links

Breaking News

Serbian President Postpones Bosnia Visit


Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic (file photo)
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic (file photo)

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on June 15 called off a visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina after a member of Bosnia's tripartite presidency opposed his trip over the arrest of a former Bosnian Muslim commander on Serbian war crimes charges.

Nikolic had been set to arrive in Sarajevo on June 16, his first official visit since 2012.

But Bakir Izetbegovic, the Muslim member of Bosnia's presidency, on June 15 called for Nikolic to delay his visit over the arrest in Switzerland of Naser Oric, commander of Bosnian Muslims in Srebenica during the country's 1992-1995 interethnic war.

Oric was arrested on June 11 in Switzerland.

Srebrenica is the town near where Bosnian Serb forces slaughtered almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys in mid-July 1995 in the worst massacre on European soil since World War II.

Announcing that Nikolic had been forced to change his plans, the president's office said he would only visit Bosnia "when all three members of the presidency will show unity and readiness."

Serbia, which accuses Oric of committing war crimes in 1992, has 18 days from the day of Oric's arrest to submit an official extradition request.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG