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Ratko Mladić Quotes

Ratko Mladić is a Bosnian Serb convicted war criminal and former military commander who led the Army of Republika Srpska as a general during the Yugoslav Wars. He was later found guilty of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia .

On 31 May 2011, Mladić was extradited to The Hague, where he was processed at the detention center that holds suspects for the ICTY. His trial formally began in The Hague on 16 May 2012 and was concluded on 22 November 2017, finding him guilty and sentencing him to life in prison.

A long-time member of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, Mladić began his career in the Yugoslav People's Army in 1965. He came to prominence in the Yugoslav Wars, initially as a high-ranking officer of the Yugoslav People's Army and subsequently as the Chief of the General Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska in the Bosnian War of 1992–95. He has been referred to by certain media outlets as the "Butcher of Bosnia".

In July 1996 the Trial Chamber of the ICTY, proceeding in the absence of Mladić under the ICTY's Rule 61, confirmed all counts of the original indictments, finding there were reasonable grounds to believe he had committed the alleged crimes, and issued an international arrest warrant. The Serbian and United States' governments offered €5 million for information leading to Mladić's capture and arrest. Mladić nevertheless managed to remain at large for nearly sixteen years, initially sheltered by Serbian and Bosnian Serb security forces and later by family. On 26 May 2011, he was arrested in Lazarevo, Serbia. His capture was considered to be one of the pre-conditions for Serbia being awarded candidate status for European Union membership.

On 22 November 2017, he was sentenced to life in prison by the ICTY after being found guilty of 10 charges, one of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and four of violations of the laws or customs of war. He was cleared of one count of genocide. As the top military officer with command responsibility, Mladić was deemed by the ICTY to be responsible for both the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre. Wikipedia  

✵ 12. March 1943
Ratko Mladić photo
Ratko Mladić: 14   quotes 11   likes

Famous Ratko Mladić Quotes

“It would have been better if we had fought in Italy and Austria which are really at war against us, instead of allowing them to use our unfortunate Slovenians, Croats and Moslems as bait and cannon fodder.”

Ratko Mladić

From interview with Vreme, May 24, 1993
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

“There are so many! It is going to be a feast. There will be blood up to your knees.”

Ratko Mladić

Nedzida Sadikovic, as quoted by Roy Gutman, Newsday News Service, August 9, 1995.
Srebrenica Massacre

“We, as the winners [of WW1 & WW2], created a common country [Yugoslavia] with our enemies [Croats & Muslims], who were on the defeated side [Central Powers & Axis Powers].”

Ratko Mladić

From interview with PTC Б1, 1992
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

“The generations of the past failed to unite Serbia and to establish a common Serbian state, which should include all Serbian national, ethnic and historical territories.”

Ratko Mladić

From interview with PTC Б1, 1992
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

“We Serbs are the only nation, on this planet, who decided to unite with people who tried to exterminate us and were our enemies.”

Ratko Mladić

From interview with PTC Б1, 1992
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

“We are fully aware that war is not the only way to defend our values. But if those values are fundamentally endangered, as is the case today, then war is the only way to defend them. Everything that hinders us in our effort to defend ourselves is an injustice. We did not want this war, it was thrust upon us, like all others. Defending one's people is a holy duty”

Ratko Mladić

From interview with Robert Block, 1995
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

Ratko Mladić Quotes

“I have no intention to create greater Serbia, neither to re-establish the former Byzantium. I am only defending my nation and my country.”

Ratko Mladić

From interview with PTC Б1, 1992
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

Country

“I wonder, if France really wants to create a Muslim state in Europe, why don't they empower them to do this in Paris or Britain?”

Ratko Mladić

Interview with Gaspari di Sklafani in DJente, Han Pijesak, 1994
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

“I can not participate in a conversation if people are portraying me as somebody who is trying to establish greater Serbia. I am not Tsar [king] Dušan.”

Ratko Mladić

From interview with PTC Б1, 1992
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

People

“When I guarantee something, it's the same as the word of the Almighty.”

Ratko Mladić

Quoted by Laura Silber in the Financial Times
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

“With one exception, the following quotes are taken directly from archival footage shot by VRS military cameramen. The arrival of the Bosnian Serb army is covered, as well as their subsequent rush to Potočari, the site of the Dutch base where tens of thousands of Bosnian Muslim refugees had taken cover, seeking protection from the United Nations.”

Ratko Mladić

Krle, Krstić, come on. Record that flag. Tear that flag down so it doesn't fly any more. Pull it down. Bravo! Towards Potočari! Towards Potočari and Bratunac! Don't stop, come on! Go in front of me the whole way, come on. Come on, boys, forward!
Here we are, on the eleventh of July of the year 1995, in Serbian Srebrenica. On the eve of yet another great Serb holiday we present this town as a gift to the Serb nation. The moment has finally arrived that, after the revolt against the Dahijas, we will have vengeance against the turks in this place."
There are so many! It is going to be a feast. There will be blood up to your knees. Nedzida Sadikovic, as quoted by Roy Gutman, Newsday News Service, August 9, 1995.
"Don't be afraid of anything, just take it easy, easy. Let the women and children go first. Thirty buses are coming, we're send you off toward Kladanj. Don't be afraid of anything, nobody is going to do anything to you. Thank you, thank you. Thanks, be safe. Nobody knows anything. Everything is done on my order."
Srebrenica Massacre

Quotes

“I think it is time for all peace-loving people of this world to start pondering where all this leads. I think it's high time that the weapons in this part of the world, and all over the world, were silenced.”

Ratko Mladić

From interview with Robert Block, 1995
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

Love , People , World , Peace

“They went running around to jewelry stores, banks, and well-stocked super-markets. There is not a single hill that they kept or liberated. On the other hand, the soldiers and officers in the army lead modest lives.”

Ratko Mladić

Commenting on war profiteers in interview with Robert Block, 1995
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

“If humankind were to follow my advice and if it were in my power, I wouldn't allow the word 'war' to be uttered in any language, I would ban all weapons, even in the form of toys.”

Ratko Mladić

From interview with Robert Block, 1995
Interviews (1993 – 1995)

War

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