With Croatian politics continuing criminal goals, a state cannot be built; pro-Bosnian forces must change their approach

(Patria) - The Public Institution Memorial Fund of Sarajevo Canton organized last night in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the Hague Tribunal's verdict in the "Prlić and others" case, a screening of the documentary film "Justice" and a promotion of the photo monograph "Heroes of Mostar".

Among others, the attendees were addressed by the Director of the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law of the University of Sarajevo, Rasim Muratović, who stated that the Hague Tribunal did a great job, establishing several important facts that must never be forgotten.

- It was established that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Croatia committed aggression against the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning that joint criminal enterprises were carried out.

These are facts that will remain until Judgment Day, Muratović said, expressing criticism of the judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, as he stated, has not prosecuted numerous criminals who were part of the mentioned criminal enterprises.

- Dust has settled on 848 war crimes cases, no one has touched them, and yet they are bringing out some indictments written in Belgrade, such as "Dobrovoljačka", Muratović said in an interview with the Patria News Agency.

A few days ago, the Council of Ministers of BiH adopted a conclusion on the Revised Strategy for the Prosecution of War Crimes, which stipulates that the most complex cases will be prosecuted by the BiH Prosecutor's Office, and all others by lower levels of the judiciary, which often dismiss cases, justifying it by a lack of evidence.

We asked Muratović if we can then expect the continuation of the prosecution of the defenders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the cases of crimes committed by the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) and the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) will be dismissed at lower levels of the judiciary?

- This is not the first time this strategy has been revised; it was revised in 2003, 2005, and even in 2008. If they continue to work as they have so far, then this should be expected.

The Hague Tribunal has reminded them of those 848 cases on several occasions. All these associations have warned about this multiple times, exerting pressure on the Prosecutor's Office in a certain way, but it has not helped.

Therefore, it is evident that certain policies have misguided this segment of the Prosecutor's Office's work, Muratović explained.

We asked our interlocutor how, in his role as director of the Institute, he can help prevent the intention of the Council of Ministers of BiH and the supervisory body to ad-act the Hague "A" list, which includes many criminals from Herzegovina and central Bosnia, as well as command and other military personnel of the HVO?

- I cannot do anything from this position. We cooperate with the Prosecutor's Office in such a way that if they request certain information from us when working on a specific case and we have it, we provide it to them.

We also forward them all our published scientific works, monographs, and studies. In this way, we can help. But in any other way, by playing a political role, certainly not, Muratović said.

During last night's event, it was also stated, among other things, that Croatian politics has not given up to this day on the goals for which crimes were committed in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for which the "Hague Six" were convicted.

Muratović says that Greater Croatian and Greater Serbian politics will never give up on their set goals.

- There is no cure for those policies. The only cure I see is from the other side - that our people in the positions they hold act correctly, as is the case with the Court and the Prosecutor's Office.

From 2005 to the present day, the Government of Norway alone has invested 28 million euros in improving the work of courts and prosecutor's offices at all levels of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to provide them with better infrastructure and working conditions.

My impression, and I don't think I'm mistaken, is that certain policies have diverted the revised strategies from the War Crimes Department to some other direction.

The "Dobrovoljačka" case is a classic example. Ejup Ganić's case was concluded in some other courts, and instead of those 848 cases, an indictment written in Belgrade suddenly becomes topical. This is a paradox. And from this position, I cannot do anything. Policies can, politicians can.

We have ministries of justice at the state level, the Federation of BiH, and cantonal levels. There are certain commissions that monitor the work of courts and prosecutor's offices. They must periodically supervise and review their work, Muratović adds.

We asked him if and how a better future and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina can be built with such Croatian politics?

- Unfortunately, not with such politics. I said last night that the Hague Tribunal did a colossal job - it proved joint criminal enterprises, it proved that it was an international armed conflict, that it was an aggression by the Republic of Croatia against the sovereign, independent Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Croatia signed the Dayton Peace Agreement as a participant in that conflict, although they often try to mislead us in public statements that they are some kind of guarantors and witnesses of that agreement. No, they are participants in the international armed conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both Serbia and Croatia.

Therefore, it is up to them; they must revise their policies. I am not optimistic about that, but I am optimistic when it comes to the other side - the fight for justice through courts and prosecutor's offices, that it is done adequately and that those 848 cases are prosecuted. It is enough for them to have work for the next 20 years.

This concerns the "A" list of people suspected of committing war crimes. These cases are completed, trials need to be organized, and that's it. Very simple, Muratović concludes in an interview with Patria.

(D. Kovač)