SDP: Verdict against Herceg-Bosna leaders is an opportunity to definitively reject policies of dividing the state

The Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina considers that the verdict of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, handed down to the political and military leadership of the para-state Herceg-Bosna, is a historic decision, primarily for all victims of crimes, and then for the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The SDP BiH believes that this, just like the recent verdict against Ratko Mladić, is a moment in which we must first and foremost remember the victims, and society as a whole must re-examine its relationship towards them.

This is a verdict against individuals who committed crimes and a verdict against the nationalist concept of dismantling the internationally recognized state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and this is by no means a verdict against the Croatian people in BiH. Therefore, we again call on everyone in BiH not to allow any kind of bitterness and raising of tensions.

It is time for all those who have not done so until now to face the judicially established truth, for who knows how many times. Let them do this primarily in the interest of the victims and their families, and then for themselves and the common future, which can only be based on truth and justice.

This verdict shows that all projects aimed at denying and dissolving the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina are doomed to failure. All policies that based their actions on crimes and divisions of BiH have received their judicial epilogue. It is time for them to be rejected and defeated.

It is clear that peace and stability in BiH are only guaranteed by the ideas of solidarity and common life, the ideas and concepts on which our society is historically based. Although it is clear that no verdict can correct the consequences of committed crimes, exposing and sanctioning criminals is the foundation for building a just society.

Court verdicts that cannot make crimes be erased, on the other hand, help them to be remembered and serve as a lesson for the future. By punishing, if not all, then as many crimes and their perpetrators and instigators as possible, a precondition is created that future generations will not be exposed to them again.

Finally, for our society, it is crucially important that we all understand that there is no collective guilt of a people, but that our only victims are all of us, each and every one of them, and that criminals are exclusively criminals.

This society must finally treat the victims who have lived through and survived the worst war horrors, crimes and humiliations as heroes of our time, who deserve the piety and respect of all of us.

The key national interest of Bosnia and Herzegovina is its future. We want it to be bright and prosperous and for all citizens and peoples of BiH and their children to work together and contribute to a better and happier society in the time to come.

We believe in a future that will be based on reconciliation, respect and building common values and a common Bosnia and Herzegovina.