Serbia takes the chair

Madam, - It is an affront to the victims of Serbian atrocities and a mockery of human rights that Serbia has now been elected…

Madam, - It is an affront to the victims of Serbian atrocities and a mockery of human rights that Serbia has now been elected to chair the Council of Europe, Europe's human rights body (The Irish Times, May 10th).

Serbia has already been convicted by the International Court of Justice for breaking the genocide convention by refusing to hand over Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic for trial for war crimes.

No member of the Council of Europe, including Ireland, objected to this elevation of Serbia as watchdog of human rights in Europe. What a shameful stain on Europe's humanitarian commitment. - Yours, etc,

BRENDAN BUTLER, GO Peace Alliance, Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7.