Madam, - The capture of Radovan Karadzic by the authorities in Serbia, albeit after an unacceptable delay but, encouragingly, following the appointment of a more pro-Europe government in that country, is to be welcomed.
Maybe if they can now trace and arrest Ratko Mladic, his henchman, the difficult road to some semblance of justice for the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina can now be travelled.
It will, surely, bring with it harrowing personal memories for all involved and, once again, raise issues of neighbourly distrust and extreme nationalism in the Balkans in one of the most appalling periods in modern European history.
However, we can but hope that during this process valuable lessons can also be learned by the international community on a range of issues, including lack of timely intervention where genocide is being perpetrated and the continued need for long-term and committed development assistance in Bosnia, in particular, and for southeastern Europe in general.
The former Yugoslavia has its success stories in Slovenia and Croatia to offer encouragement.
Time has not healed all of the wounds but maybe now, justice, if it will finally be done, can begin the healing process and pave the way to successful economic and social development. - Yours, etc,
PAUL O'MAHONY,
Comhlámh, (Irish Association of Development Workers)
Upper Camden Street
Dublin 2.
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Madam, - When will George W Bush, Tony Blair and others be brought before a UN tribunal to account for the deaths of over 100,000 innocent Iraqis? - Yours, etc,
PATRICK O'BYRNE,
Shandon Crescent ,
Phibsborough,
Dublin 7.