[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 4 (Monday, January 26, 1998)]
[Page 125]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Apprehension of Goran Jelisic

January 22, 1998

    I welcome the news that Goran Jelisic has been detained by SFOR 
forces, led by American units, in the Republika Srpska city of Bijelina. 
He is now being transported to The Hague for trial before the 
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Jelisic was 
indicted by the Tribunal in 1995 for 56 counts of genocide, war crimes, 
and crimes against humanity. The SFOR forces acted according to their 
rules of engagement, which authorize the apprehension of indicted war 
criminals when encountered in the course of their duties. This was the 
third such apprehension by SFOR forces, following actions last July and 
December that resulted in the capture of four indictees and the death of 
a fifth.
    I congratulate the SFOR troops who participated in this effort. The 
United States continues to support fully the work of the Tribunal to 
bring indicted war criminals to justice. Jelisic will be the 23rd of 78 
indictees brought to The Hague for trial. It is important to recall that 
most of these were delivered in the last 7 months by the parties 
themselves. We intend to sustain political and economic pressure to 
assure continued compliance with the Dayton accords.
    We must continue this progress. Today, I call again on all parties 
to the Dayton accords to fulfill their obligations to bring all indicted 
war criminals to justice. Carrying out these commitments is essential 
for advancing the work of reconciliation in Bosnia.