United Nations Radio

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is heartened by the arrest today of Radovan Karadzic, former President of the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A UN statement says this is a historic moment for the victims who have waited 13 years for Mr. Karadzic to be brought to justice. It says the Secretary-General commends the Serbian authorities for this decisive step toward ending impunity for those indicted for serious violations of international humanitarian law during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

The Secretary-General says "this important and timely arrest will enable the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to move closer to completing its mandate, and bring justice to the perpetrators and the victims of the serious international crimes committed".

The statement concludes that ending impunity is an essential element for achieving sustainable peace and justice in the region. While this is an important milestone, the work of the International Tribunal will not be complete until all fugitives have been arrested and tried.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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