Izetbegović: With support and a top team we are going for revision of the judgment against Serbia

A consultation on filing a request for revision of the judgment in Bosnia and Herzegovina's genocide lawsuit against Serbia was held in Sarajevo today, and it was decided that BiH will initiate a revision, which was confirmed by Bakir Izetbegović, a member of the BiH Presidency, Patria reports.

He said that he informed the gathering, which was attended by about 50 members of the political, legal, and academic community, about the key elements for the revision and that support was expressed. 

- The BiH Presidency, by its decision in 2002, appointed Sakib Softić as agent in the BiH lawsuit against Yugoslavia. The Presidency granted him the authority to undertake all legal actions. One of these is filing an application for revision of the judgment. 

My answer to all those who claim that this is extra-institutional action is as follows: That is not true. Whoever claims that Softić lacks legitimacy must prove that with legal arguments. There are no arguments - he said.

Softić made efforts to present new evidence with the help of an expert team, and the application for revision was established by top experts.

- Even the largest countries would wish for such a team, and they would envy BiH for the application - he assessed, adding that Softić has his unreserved support.

Izetbegović said that a political crisis will occur, but not to the extent that is being threatened. 

- With this, we are not taking away anyone's right; the truth is needed by everyone - including those who resist.

He said that this truth will be written by impartial international judges, and that the revision carries a risk.

- Abandoning the revision for the sake of political stability would harm the dignity of the victims - Izetbegović said.

Finally, he stated that life in BiH can be built and developed for the benefit of all three constituent peoples. Responding to a question about how he comments on the fact that representatives of the Croatian people, Dragan Čović, nor Mladen Ivanić, the other two members of the BiH Presidency, were not present today, he said:

- Both Ivanić and Čović received a proper invitation; why they are not here today, ask them - Izetbegović said. 

The president of the Foundation 'Justice for BiH', Fadila Memišević, said that with the decision on the revision of the judgment against Serbia for genocide, the mission was successful.

- I must say that we succeeded in our mission. We financed our lawsuit, and there are still some funds left to finance the revision. In these ten years since the judgment, which we were not satisfied with, we have worked a lot in the foundation. All members of the Management Board are volunteers, but we worked permanently. We had very good cooperation with the office of Mr. Izetbegović, especially in the last two years - she said.

- This point is crucial for BiH, and that is what we heard today. We spoke with one voice, a voice of support. Today's gathering spoke with one voice - added Fadila Memišević.

Finally, Kada Hotić unexpectedly came to the podium and emphasized that victims and families of victims have the right to seek revision and that this is not a matter for Bakir Izetbegović but for the justice of all citizens.

- Do not forget that instead of Bakir Izetbegović in the Presidency, anyone else could have been, and the same thing would have been demanded of them - Hotić pointed out.

Nermin Nikšić, president of the SDP BiH, as we learn from participants of this consultation, gave a very striking speech and said that this revision of the judgment is a matter of justice, something that all citizens deserve, and that he firmly stands behind Bakir Izetbegović's decision to submit the revision of the judgment.

Fahrudin Radončić also gave support to the revision of the judgment, briefly stating that this decision was made unanimously.