Holbrooke Denies Deal With Radovan Karadzic

When he disappeared, he put out a piece of disinformation that I had cut a deal with him if he disappeared we wouldn`t pursue him.

Former US negotiator Richard Holbrooke denied the USA offered former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic a deal through him to avoid war crimes trial if he withdraws from public life and does not disturb the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, Serbian Blic writes.

Holbrooke said the negotiations anticipated that Karadzic withdrew from the function of the Bosnian Serb entity of Republika Srpska presidential post and the president of the Serbian Democratic Party, which is what he did.

- But when he disappeared, he put out a piece of disinformation that I had cut a deal with him if he disappeared we wouldn't pursue him. That was a completely false statement – Holbrooke said.

In his first appearance before The Hague Tribunal, Karadzic said he made a deal with US envoy at the time, Richard Holbrooke, and the US government to withdraw from the public and not disturb the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, while “in return the United States of America would fulfil their commitments”.

Former RS president, charged with genocide and other crimes over non-Serbs during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina said the State Department tried to prevent charges being raised against him, but chief prosecutor at the time, Richard Goldstone, did not accept it.