PETRONIJEVIĆ: RUSSIA-CHINA- USA NEARLY FULLY AGREE ON BiH FOR THE FIRST TIME

BELGRADE, MAY 14 /SRNA/ – President of the International Law Restoration Centre Goran Petronijević stated that, for the first time, the session of the United Nations Security Council on BiH showed almost full agreement among the major powers, Russia, China, and the United States, regarding illegitimate Christian Schmidt and the future of the OHR, adding that such an approach would enable a functional situation in the country.

Petronijević assessed that Russia's address at the session was the most realistic, because its representatives possess accurate information which they present before the Security Council, and that China joined that position. He pointed out that the United States, for the first time, did not deny those claims, and in some matters, such as the issue of the OHR remaining, was very close to the positions expressed by China and Russia. "For the first time, perhaps in the last 30 years, we have a situation where some of our cards are aligning," Petronijević stressed. He stated that he hopes this different approach toward BiH will make it possible to achieve a functional state, because high representatives so far, and especially the self-appointed Schmidt, have created general chaos. Petronijević said it was important that Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's ambassador to the UN, pointed out before the Security Council the inhumane conditions in which the first president of Republika Srpska, Radovan Karadžić, and General Ratko Mladić are being held in detention. "I hope this will lead to better results, that they will release these prisoners of ours, these old and ill people, or allow them to come here for treatment until they pass away, and that their suffering will be reduced," said Petronijević, who is also a member of Karadžić's defence team. Regarding Ratko Mladić, Petronijević said he had learned the contents of the report by independent doctors engaged by the Mechanism, and that it matches earlier findings by both Serbian and Dutch doctors that the general is in the final stage before death. "I learned that the findings of the doctors or medical commission formed by the Mechanism to examine or verify the previous findings of Serbian and Dutch doctors, which were already in agreement regarding General Mladić's health, confirmed those claims," Petronijević said. He believes that, for that reason, General Mladić should be transferred from prison conditions to a medical institution in Serbia, where he would receive care so that his suffering could be eased in the final days of his life.