November 24, 1995
Web posted at: 10:15 p.m. EST (0315 GMT)
UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- The prosecution of Bosnian war criminals would be aided by the recently-signed peace settlement, according to the U.N. tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
In a statement issued Friday, the International Criminal Tribunal welcomed the "General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina," noting that all parties agreed to "strictly fulfill their obligations to arrest and surrender persons indicted by the tribunal."
"This agreement promises that those who have committed crimes which threaten international peace and security -- genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes -- will be brought to justice," the statement said.
NATO forces in Bosnia would have powers to arrest any indicted war criminals they encounter, the tribunal said.
The peace agreement also provides for the Bosnian constitution to prohibit anyone indicted by the tribunal from holding public office if they try to evade its authority.
It pointed out that the peace deal did not provide amnesty for those accused of serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The statement was released jointly by chief prosecutor Richard Goldstone of South Africa and the tribunal's president, Judge Antonio Cassese. The tribunal, based in the Hague, was set up by the United Nations in 1993.
It has indicted 45 Serbs and seven Croats, including Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan Karadzic and Gen. Ratko Mladic.
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