Serbia’s president not opposed to Ganic trial in Bosnia in bid to defuse tensions

Serb leader not opposed to Ganic trial in Bosnia

BELGRADE, Serbia — In a bid to defuse tensions over the arrest in Britain of an ex-Bosnian leader, the Serbian president said Sunday that Belgrade would not oppose his extradition to Bosnia instead of Serbia.

Wartime Bosnian Vice President Ejup Ganic was detained March 1 at London’s Heathrow Airport on a Serbian war crimes warrant, triggering a dispute between former foes Bosnia and Serbia. He was released on bail last week.

Both Serbia and Bosnia have demanded his extradition.

Ganic was arrested for his alleged role in the 1992 death of Yugoslav army troops in Bosnia. Belgrade accuses the 64-year-old Ganic of ordering an attack on retreating soldiers in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.

Serbian President Boris Tadic said that Belgrade would not oppose Ganic’s handover to Bosnia as long as he stands trial there.

“Serbia would like to believe that the judicial authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina are capable of providing a fair and honest trial,” Tadic said.

Serbian officials fear that Bosnia’s courts would not take the Serb accusations against Ganic seriously. Bosnia argues the allegations against Ganic are part of a campaign to minimize Serb guilt for the 1992-95 war that tore the Balkans apart.