Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
April 7, 1999

Responsibility of Individual Yugoslav Army and Ministry
Of Internal Affairs Commanders for Crimes Committed
By Forces Under Their Command in Kosovo

The United States wants to send a clear message to the following named commanders of the Yugoslav Army (VJ) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), as well as all other commanders of those forces, that they are on notice that VJ and MUP forces are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Kosovo. Under international law and Article 7 of the Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), commanders can be indicted, prosecuted and, if found guilty, imprisoned--not only for crimes they themselves commit but also for failing to prevent crimes from occurring or for failure to prosecute those who commit crimes.

The fact that someone is ordered to commit crimes does not relieve that person of individual criminal liability. No commander of the VJ or MUP is immune from prosecution, now or in the future. Any commander of the VJ or MUP who plans, instigates, orders, or even aids or abets in a war crime, crimes against humanity, or genocide, is individually responsible for crimes committed in Kosovo. There is no statute of limitations for war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide within the jurisdiction of the International Tribunal. The United States identifies these individuals as the most recently known commanders of the following units in Kosovo:

Colonel Milos Mandic, Commander, 252nd Armored Brigade, deployed central Kosovo (Home Garrison: Kraljevo, Serbia)
Major General Vladimir Lazarevic, Commander, Pristina Corps
Colonel Mladen Cirkovic, Commander, 15th Armored Brigade, HQ Pristina
Colonel Dragan Zivanovic, Commander, 125th Motorized Brigade, HQ Kosovska Mitrovica and Pec
Colonel Krsman Jelic, Commander, 243rd Mechanized Brigade, HQ Urosevac
Colonel Bozidar Delic, Commander, 549th Motorized Brigade, HQ Prizren and Djakovica
Colonel Radojko Stefanovic, Commander, 52nd Mixed Artillery Brigade, HQ Gnjilane
Colonel Milos Djosan, Commander, 52nd Light Air Defense Artillery-Rocket Regiment, HQ Djakovica
Major Zeljko Pekovic, Commander, 52nd Military Police Battalion, HQ, Pristina

We are continuing to monitor events in Kosovo, including changes in command of VJ and MUP units, and we will provide this and further information, including additional names, as we can to the Prosecutor of the International Tribunal. We will continue to work with the Prosecutor to assist her efforts to bring to justice anyone responsible for ordering and carrying out war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide in Kosovo.

The United States provides information to the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICTY in ways that protect U.S. sources and methods. In recent days, the United States has worked to accelerate the delivery of information on Kosovo to the Prosecutor. Ambassador Scheffer has consulted today with the Prosecutor’s office to ensure that information on Kosovo is transmitted securely in as current a manner as possible.

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