Mladic Reaction from Croatia to Serbia: EU Membership Support May Be Withdrawn

In the written statement made by the Croatian Parliament, it was stated that Jandrokovic met with EU Commission Vice President for Fair and Competitive Transition Teresa Ribera in the capital Zagreb.

Jandrokovic stated that burying the body of war criminal Mladic, who was convicted of the genocide against Bosnians in Srebrenica in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 1995, with an official ceremony in Serbia is not acceptable and does not comply with EU values.

Regarding the steps his country will take if Serbia continues its stance, Jandrokovic said, "We can withdraw our support for Serbia's EU membership process. This will receive support from many parties in the parliament." he said.

Who is Mladic, the war criminal who hid for 16 years?

Ratko Mladic was born in 1942 in the village of Bozanovici near Kalinovik in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. He received his military training in Belgrade and served on active duty in the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA).

In May 1992, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the newly established Republika Srpska Army in Bosnia and Herzegovina and remained in this position until 1996.

Mladic, for whom an indictment was first prepared by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on July 24, 1995, fled to Serbia after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and hid for about 16 years.

Despite the statements of the Serbian authorities that they could not find Mladic, allegations that he was protected by some people in state institutions for years came to the fore.

In the images on a local television program, Mladic was seen meeting with people in crowded places, having fun and taking photos while he was wanted.

Mladic was captured in the village of Lazarevo near Zrenjanin, Serbia, on 26 May 2011 and was sent to The Hague on 31 May 2011.

Mladic, whose trial began on May 16, 2012, denied the accusations against him.

Mladic was considered to be the chief responsible and instigator of the Srebrenica Genocide, in which 8 thousand 372 Bosnian civilians were murdered in July 1995.

Mladic, who had recently suffered serious health problems in the prison where he was held in The Hague, Netherlands, died on August 27.

Mladic's body was buried with an official ceremony in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, on September 7, with the participation of many Serbian officials. Serbia's decision to hold an official funeral for a war criminal drew criticism.