OSCE Mission Head to Serbia concerned over verbal assaults and threats to War Crimes Prosecutor

BELGRADE, 15 October 2007 - Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, voiced concern today over recent repeated verbal assaults and threats to the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor, his deputies and spokesperson by some members of the Serbian Parliament.

"It is particularly alarming to hear such foul language used by the people's representatives, and the families of judicial officials have also not been spared from these verbal attacks," said Ambassador Urstad. "This could undermine the dignity and authority of Parliament as the highest representative body of the country."

"The War Crimes Prosecutor has a demanding task to bring the perpetrators of war crimes to justice, which is Serbia's obligation under both international and national law," added the Head of the OSCE Mission.

"Using the parliamentary floor to verbally assault representatives of the judiciary while praising war crimes indictees sends the wrong message to the public, it is contrary to Serbia's stated commitments, and infringes on the independence of the judiciary."