January 14, 2005
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN

Serbia and Montenegro Assistance

The Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2005 Section 563 (c) prohibits assistance to the central government of Serbia after May 31, 2005 unless the Secretary of State certifies that the government of Serbia and Montenegro has taken action to, cooperate with the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, “including access for investigators, the provision of documents, and the surrender and transfer of indictees or assistance in their apprehension, including making all practicable efforts to apprehend and transfer Ratko Mladic,” and certain other steps.

In March of 2004, the Secretary declined to certify to Congress that Serbia and Montenegro was cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia resulting in the withholding of a significant portion of our assistance after March 31, 2004. Since the Secretary’s decision last March, there has been no improvement in Serbia and Montenegro’s cooperation with the Tribunal.

Consistent with his previous finding, and in light of the continuing record of non-cooperation the Secretary has decided to withhold $10 million in assistance for fiscal year 2005. This amount is in addition to the more than $16 million that remains withheld from the FY2004 assistance budget. We are examining alternative ways to use these funds to further our policy objectives. In designing our aid package this year, we have redirected funds away from the central government, focusing our $73.6 million in assistance on organizations and programs outside of the central government that are committed to reform.

We call on the authorities in Belgrade to cooperate fully with the Tribunal by arresting and transferring fugitive indictees, particularly Ratko Mladic, to face justice in The Hague.

The Secretary is prepared to review this decision if future actions by Serbia and Montenegro demonstrate their cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

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