Džaferović: The verdict is a fraction of justice

SARAJevo, (Patria) - Today's first-instance verdict against Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović represents only a fraction of justice for the victims of the committed crimes. The greatest significance of this verdict is that the existence of a comprehensive joint criminal enterprise, which was conducted from August 1991 against the non-Serb population in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, has once again been confirmed before the institutions of international justice, stated member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Šefik Džaferović in a press release.

It is immensely important that this verdict also clearly established that the permanent removal of the non-Serb population was a goal jointly shared by the political leadership of Serbia, the so-called Republika Srpska of BiH, and the self-proclaimed autonomous regions in Croatia, Džaferović points out.

"Regarding the individual responsibility of these two, certainly the sentence of 12 years is too mild and unsatisfactory, as is the fact that, in addition to Bosanski Šamac, they were not found guilty of all the crimes from the indictment. I expect this to be corrected in the appeal process. On the other hand, the fact that the proven participation of the heads of state security of Serbia and Milošević's right-hand man in the crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina has historical significance. Serbia will have to face its role in the aggression and the commission and support of crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina," it is stated.