Izetbegović: I believe the Hague verdict will be an antibiotic, strengthening bright relations with Croatia

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Member of the BiH Presidency from the Bosniak people Bakir Izetbegović said after the guilty verdict against former leaders of the Croatian Community of Herceg-Bosna today in The Hague that it is important that Croatia and Croats in BiH experience a certain catharsis, reconcile with the truth and abandon such projects, which, as he said, would be enough for him as a Bosniak.

"What happened, happened. There was an attempt to split Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia committed aggression against BiH, helped in ethnic cleansing. That is the past. But, in that past, Croatia also helped Bosniaks. We are ready to strengthen that bright side of relations and create mutual benefit for Croatia and BiH," Izetbegović told reporters in Sarajevo.

Asked to comment on the glorification of Hague convicts, Izetbegović said it would last for some time and then face a backlash.

"You cannot claim to be bearers of European values and treat the verdict of a UN court and the victims in such a way," Izetbegović said.

"I believe this verdict will act as an antibiotic on such politicians and calm their ambitions," Izetbegović added.

Speaking about how it is possible that the Hague tribunal convicted Croatia for participation in the war in BiH but not Serbia, Izetbegović said there are a series of verdicts for war crimes in BiH that reach all the way to Belgrade. On the other hand, he said, Croatian President Franjo Tuđman left recorded transcripts on the basis of which the Hague tribunal could more easily reach the verdict it did.

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, within the appeals verdict against former leaders of the self-proclaimed Croatian Community of Herceg-Bosna, established that there was an international armed conflict in BiH and a state of occupation, and confirmed the existence of a Croatian joint criminal enterprise aimed at ethnic cleansing of parts of BiH.

The Appeals Chamber, presided over by Carmelo Agius, established that the trial chamber correctly determined the existence of an international armed conflict and that Croatia exercised control through local bodies in Herceg-Bosna, confirming a state of occupation. The Appeals Chamber also rejected grounds of appeal claiming that no joint criminal enterprise existed.

Former Prime Minister of the Croatian Community of Herceg-Bosna Jadranko Prlić was sentenced to 25 years in prison, Defense Minister Bruno Stojić to 20 years, two HVO chiefs of staff Slobodan Praljak and Milivoj Petković to 20 years each, HVO Military Police commander Valentin Ćorić to 16 years, and Head of the Department for Prisoners Berislav Pušić to 10 years in prison.