Turkey has condemned the organization of a funeral ceremony for Ratko Mladić, known as the “Butcher of Bosnia” for his role in the genocide against Bosniaks, calling it “unacceptable.”
“It is unacceptable that the funeral ceremony of Ratko Mladić, who was handed final convictions by international courts for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, be used in a manner that amounts to denying the grave crimes committed and the human suffering endured,” Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said.
“Rejecting the relevant court rulings or attempting to portray convicted perpetrators as heroes deepens the pain of victims and their families, while also undermining long-standing efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in the region,” Keçeli added.
He emphasized the need for the Balkans to learn from its past and work together to build a peaceful, prosperous and shared future, while honoring those who lost their lives during the Bosnian War.
Keçeli concluded his remarks by paying tribute to all innocent victims of the conflict, with particular emphasis on those killed in the Srebrenica genocide, and expressed solidarity with their families.
Mladić, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, died in The Hague on August 27 at the age of 84, while serving a life sentence for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
He was convicted for crimes committed during the 1992–1995 Bosnian War, including genocide for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, in which more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić offered to organize his funeral in Serbia.
