VZCZCXYZ0018
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0499 1711516
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201516Z JUN 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2103
INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0159
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 8894

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000499 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017 
TAGS: ICTY KAWC KJUS SR XH MW
SUBJECT: (ICTY) YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR 
REVIEWS CARLA'S LIST 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Wolff for reasons 1.(b) and 1 (d). 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  In a farewell call, ICTY Prosecutor Carla 
del Ponte described her work and plans for the months between 
now and September when her resignation from the Tribunal 
takes effect.  Earlier she told the Security Council that, 
"the fact that four persons remain at large, in particular, 
Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, is a permanent stain on 
our work." Del Ponte told Ambassador Wolff that Serbia's 
cooperation with the Tribunal has improved somewhat and she 
hopes that this factor, along with the recent arrest of 
Zdravko Tolimir, may lead to further arrests of key fugitives 
during the next few months.  Del Ponte also urged the USG to 
support her Deputy, David Tolbert (US) to succeed her as ICTY 
Prosecutor.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) Carla del Ponte, ICTY Prosecutor for the past eight 
years, met with Ambassador Wolff on June 18.  She was 
accompanied by the Deputy Prosecutor, David Tolbert.  While 
reflecting with satisfaction on the achievements of the 
Tribunal, del Ponte clearly had one thing on her mind - 
"Carla's list" (A movie of the same name has been produced to 
highlight the Tribunal's work).  Del Ponte said that she had 
seen some progress in Serbia's cooperation, albeit guarded. 
The Tadic government has pledged to assist her in locating 
the key fugitives and she believes the Chief of Intelligence, 
Rade Bulatovic, knows in which locale Mladic is hiding.  She 
described the May 31 arrest of Zdravko Tolimir and subsequent 
arrest of Vlastimir Djordjevic in Montenegro.  Both have now 
been transferred to The Hague.  Del Ponte described how the 
Serbs played a key role but distanced themselves from the 
arrest of Tolimir.  She said that Belgrade has tried to link 
the situation in Kosovo to the apprehension of Mladic, saying 
that if the UN acts on Kosovo independence, people will be 
protesting in the streets and the political situation will be 
too fragile to bear the arrest of such popular leaders as 
Mladic or Karadic.  Wolff noted that such linkage is 
unacceptable.  Del Ponte said the Serbs have Mladic's family 
under surveillance and she remains hopeful that Butalovic, 
whose assignment ends in July, will deliver Mladic before the 
end of that month. 
 
¶3.  (C) Del Ponte seemed less optimistic about getting 
Karadic and said better intelligence support from KFOR, NATO 
and the US would be welcome.  "Just tell me where he is - 
Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, she said.  Then I can work with 
that country."  Ambassador Wolff assured del Ponte that the 
apprehension of these key fugitives remains an important US 
policy objective.  He asked del Ponte what conclusion she 
would draw if by the end of July Mladic remains at large? 
Del Ponte responded that she had not envisioned that 
situation but it may mean that he is no longer in Serbia. 
She said that there is a window of opportunity now.  It is 
not enough for the Serbs to say he is not there.  They must 
give evidence that he is not and reveal where he is.  Del 
Ponte added that Tolimer had been Mladic's "right hand man" 
and she hopes to meet with him and is "prepared to make a 
plea agreement" in exchange for information leading to 
Mladic's arrest.  That meeting will take place as soon as he 
had obtained defense counsel. 
 
¶4.  (U) Turning to the future of the Tribunal, del Ponte 
expressed support for Tolbert's candidacy to succeed her as 
Prosecutor.  She said she had spoken with UN Legal Counsel 
Michel but did not get much information on the appointment of 
her successor.  Ambassador Wolff assured them that the 
Secretary General understands the issue and has not yet 
 
SIPDIS 
filled the job. 
WOLFF