Tarik Tanović for NAP: It is a satisfaction when you realise that the criminals did not win and that life goes on

MOSTAR, (Patria) - The Hague Tribunal today confirmed in a final verdict that a joint criminal enterprise was carried out in BiH by the Republic of Croatia and the former so-called Herceg-Bosna, and confirmed the first-instance verdict of 111 years in prison for six political and military leaders of the former Herceg-Bosna.

Tarik Tanović from Mostar, who spent more than 300 days in the former camps of the para-state Herceg-Bosna, says he expected this verdict.

Tanović told the Patria agency that the International Court was in some way guided by compromises, the Appeals Chamber adopted some parts of the appeals of the convicted in relation to the first-instance verdict, but in the end the final verdict does not differ from the first-instance one.

- The joint criminal enterprise was confirmed, which was expected. When it comes to this part about the destruction of the Old Bridge as a legitimate military target, that disappointed me a little, because it is a cultural monument. Still, one should look at the fact that every human life is more important than bridges, and when I look at everything in the end, I can be satisfied, because the JCE was proven - Tanović points out.

He emphasised that he also expected Slobodan Praljak to make some scene in the courtroom, because he is a playwright.

- Expected from Praljak, he is a well-known playwright, and I really expected that he would in some way put on a show in the courtroom. This was a cowardly act, it cannot be called anything else, the act of a man who does not have the courage to accept responsibility for his misdeeds.

Tanović points out that despite all the problems, life in Mostar today is still better compared to the time when those convicted of war crimes lived in this city.

- Today it is better in Mostar simply because they are no longer here. There are problems, but people are slowly starting to live, life is normalising, which would not be possible if these people were still in Mostar.

As a former camp inmate, Tanović says he does not see personal satisfaction in the verdict.

- I have no personal satisfaction, I do not look at the verdict in that way, because no verdict can erase my year in the camps. I see satisfaction in the fact that they did not win, that life goes on, that we are here and they are in prison - concluded Tarik Tanović.