Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic meets with Carla del Ponte

Belgrade, September 4 - Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic described Tuesday's meeting with chief ICTY prosecutor Carla del Ponte as "constructive, but without spectacular results."

"First of all, we focused on future cooperation. Being a UN member, Yugoslavia is obliged to cooperate with the ICTY. It is in our mutual interest to investigate crimes, bring the criminals to justice and relieve our nation of collective guilt", Djindjic said.

The Serbian Prime Minister stressed that the domestic political situation and legal uncertainties created difficulties in gathering evidence of war crimes, stressing that Yugoslav legislation had to take a more active role in war crimes investigation.

"This government is fully aware of its responsibility to deal with war criminals", Djindjic said, adding that the Yugoslav judiciary would establish closer cooperation with the Hague Tribunal on collecting evidence of crimes committed against Kosovo Serbs.

Secret indictments also discussed

Asked whether the extradition of secret indictees had been discussed, Carla del Ponte answered affirmatively. "Such indictments exist in Serbia and in all neighbouring countries, but they have not been unsealed," del Ponte said, adding that the Serbian government has been given no orders for anyone's extradition. She also said that the specific names of indictees had been mentioned, but did not want to disclose them.

He added that the next priority was to identify and prosecute criminals on the ethnic Albanian side.

Djindjic and del Ponte also talked about presenting Yugoslav legal experts with the Hague Tribunal's evidence on acts of embezzlement committed by the former regime. Our judiciary is then free to further pursue investigation of these offences.

"I want to say that this is just a regular visit, since a Hague Tribunal office has been opened in Belgrade," del Ponte said.

Apart from the Serbian Prime Minister, Carla del Ponte also met with Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic, Serbian Public Prosecutor Dragomir Nedic, police official Dragan Karleusa and Belgrade District Prosecutor Rade Terzic.