Key facts
- The body of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic returned to Serbia on a government plane.
- Mladic was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes during the Bosnian War.
- EU enlargement chief Marta Kos cancelled her trip to Serbia.
- Kos stated that glorifying war criminals is incompatible with the EU's values.
The body of Ratko Mladic, a Bosnian Serb military leader convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes during the 1992-95 Bosnian War, has returned to Serbia on a government plane. The arrival, which some reports indicate was with military honors, has drawn criticism from the European Union. EU enlargement chief Marta Kos cancelled a planned trip to Serbia, stating that the glorification surrounding Mladic's death is incompatible with the values underpinning the EU's path toward integration. Mladic, who died last week at age 84 in a UN detention facility in The Hague, remains a revered figure among many Serbs. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic dismissed Kos's cancellation as "stupid." While an initial report suggested a state funeral, the Serbian government has not confirmed this following European outcry. A commemoration ceremony is being organized by an association of retired generals, with a funeral expected to be held at a church in a Belgrade suburb.