The EU's Marta Kos canceled her Serbia visit due to the country's plans to honor convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic with a state funeral
The European Union’s enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos has canceled her upcoming visit to Serbia, citing the country’s decision to honor convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic with a state funeral. This move comes as Serbia prepares to bury Mladic, known as the Butcher of Bosnia with full military honors, despite his conviction for genocide and war crimes.
The controversy stems from Mladic’s legacy as a polarizing figure—reviled by victims of the Bosnian War but hailed as a hero by many Serbs. His death at age 84 while serving a life sentence in The Hague has reignited debates about Serbia’s stance on war crimes and its path toward European Union membership.
The Glorification of Ratko Mladic and EU Values
Kos took to social media on Friday to express her concerns, stating that the glorification surrounding Mladic’s death is incompatible with the values on which the EU path is built. She emphasized that Mladic’s conviction for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes makes his glorification unacceptable.
In response, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić dismissed Kos’s explanation as very short but stupid arguing that she did not specify who was glorifying Mladic.
The EU’s stance reflects broader international condemnation of Serbia’s decision to honor Mladic. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty urged Serbian authorities to counter the glorification of convicted war criminals, which is illegal in Bosnia. Meanwhile, Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot described the funeral honors as shameful and disrespectful for the victims.
Mladic’s Legacy and the Bosnian War
Ratko Mladic’s role in the Bosnian War, particularly his involvement in the Srebrenica genocide remains a dark chapter in European history. In July 1995, his forces killed more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys, marking Europe’s first acknowledged genocide since World War II. The war, which lasted from 1992 to 1995, resulted in over 100,000 deaths and displaced millions.
Despite his conviction in 2017, Mladic is considered a hero by sections of the Serbian public and political establishment. His body, flown from The Hague to Belgrade, was received with a guard of honor on Thursday. The Serbian government plans to bury him with state and military honors, expecting tens of thousands to attend the funeral.
The Impact on Serbia’s EU Accession
Serbia has been negotiating EU accession since 2014, but the process has stalled due to democratic backsliding and Vučić’s refusal to join international sanctions against Russia. The current controversy over Mladic’s funeral honors further complicates Serbia’s relationship with the EU. Kos’s cancellation of her visit underscores the challenges Serbia faces in aligning its values with those of the European Union.
As Serbia prepares for Mladic’s burial on Monday, the international community watches closely. The event serves as a critical test for Serbia’s commitment to reconciliation and its aspirations for EU membership. The glorification of a convicted war criminal not only dishonors the victims of the Bosnian War but also raises questions about Serbia’s future in Europe.
