Ljajić: It would be best for Šešelj to return to The Hague voluntarily

President of the National Council of Serbia for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal Rasim Ljajić stated that it would be best for Vojislav Šešelj to go to The Hague and surrender voluntarily, reports the news agency Patria. 

“Any resistance will reduce his chances of being released later. If he continues with such statements, he is doing himself a disservice,” said Ljajić.

Ljajić noted that, after the decision of the Appeals Chamber of the Hague Tribunal, Serbia expects a decision from the Trial Chamber, after which it will be able to discuss next steps.

“The most important thing is to preserve political and social stability,” Ljajić emphasized.

According to him, when a case has so many legal precedents – from Šešelj's departure to The Hague, his release, and then today's decision – every political implication of these events is legitimate and real.

“You cannot convince anyone that there are no political implications. It is important that we approach all this with a cool head, and not give significance to an event that it does not have,” Ljajić stressed.

Commenting on the statement by lawyer Toma Fila that the UN Security Council could impose sanctions on Serbia if it does not extradite Šešelj, Ljajić said he does not believe radical measures are possible.

“Serbia has fulfilled all its obligations to the Tribunal. We have no contentious issues in our relations with The Hague,” Ljajić added.

Šešelj was released from The Hague on provisional release in November last year. The Appeals Chamber of the Hague Tribunal requested that the Trial Chamber immediately annul the decision on Šešelj's provisional release and order his return to The Hague.