Serbia and the Hague Tribunal

First Serb proclaimed innocent

This arbitration caused many reactions in Croatia. Although claiming to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal, believing its independence and right, Croatian politicians showed their real face just after first releasing of one Serbian citizen. Stjepan Mesic, the president of Croatia said he is worried and Croatia is disappointed with this decision but also hoping to get "real true" in the second level trial. Prime minister Ivo Sanader said Croatia knows what is the true. Do we need Hague then at all?


By WAVE Team
from Belgrade, SERBIA


Miroslav Radic is the first Serb proclaimed innocent for 14 years of existing of Tribunal in Hague, founded to be in charge for War Crimes on the territory of former Yugoslavia. During this period Tribunal accused 161 persons and trials are finished for 108. In this process against so-called "Vukovar's Three" - Mile Mrksic, Veselin Sljivancanin and Miroslav Radic the Tribunal decided to sentence Mile Mrksic with 20 years prison because of crime in Vukovar in 1991. Veselin Sljivancanin, his assistant for security, is sentenced to 5 years and Miroslav Radic is released.

Hague judges have explained that on November 20 and 21, 1991 in Vukovar happened the crime and 194 persons have been tortured and killed. But, the killers were not soldiers of ex-Yugoslav Army than Territorial defence (TO) and paramilitary forces. The conclusion is there was no criminal associating and crimes against humanity. No genocid. No actions against Croatian citizens.

This arbitration caused many reactions in Croatia. Although claiming to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal, believing its independence and right, Croatian politicians showed their real face just after first releasing of one Serbian citizen. Stjepan Mesic, the president of Croatia said he is worried and Croatia is disappointed with this decision but also hoping to get "real true" in the second level trial. Prime minister Ivo Sanader said Croatia knows what is the true (do we need Hague then at all?) and announced letter to Security Council of UN with strong protest and asking for discussion about this judgment but also about whole work of Hague Tribunal. It seems Croatian officials forgot about court independence and many judgments before this that were critisized by Serbian or Bosnian side. They were claiming than the Hague Tribunal is the right place for solving war crimes.

The president of Hague Tribunal Fausto Pokar informed UN officials about political pressures from Croatian side and asked for protecting this UN institution. Croatians were claiming they have right to criticize because they are one of the founders of this court and now can say everything they don't like about it. Seems like they want to be the judges.

On the other side, Serbia was a little surprised because no many people believed the Hague Tribunal will ever release any Serbian citizen. Some people started talking better about this court but the majority is still full of critics and bad words. As the cooperation with Hague is one of the first conditions for further European and world integrations and for Serbian membership in EU and some other institutions, it's hard to believe this is the end of Hague story.


(Published: 10.10.2007.)

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