Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Zukan Helez responded to the statements of Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, who objected to the indictments for war crimes that have come from BiH.
Helez says that he tries not to comment on the statements of political officials from neighboring countries, but that he must respond.
“Still, I cannot help but address the series of lies and manipulations of historical facts made by the President of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic. In his statement, Milanovic said that the Croatian Army was liberating BiH. The Bosniaks of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje, Ahmici near Vitez, Mostar, Prozor-Rama, Kiseljak, Konjic, Kresevo, Zenica, Zavidovici, and many other towns know what it means when the Croatian Army ‘liberates’,” said Helez.
He added that Bosniaks were imprisoned in camps in areas where they did not manage to organize.
“Horrific war crimes were committed against them. The camps Heliodrom, Dretelj, Gabela, Silos in Capljina were places of torture for thousands of Bosniaks and the final resting place for many of them. The International Court in The Hague sentenced the political and military leaders of the self-proclaimed Herzeg-Bosnia to a total of 111 years in prison when it was proven for all six convicts that they participated in a joint criminal enterprise and crimes against humanity. The Army of the Republic of BiH (ARBiH) is the military force that resisted the aggression against BiH and that liberated our country,” he emphasized.
He added that it must be acknowledged that the ARBiH and the Croatian Army cooperated in the liberation of Krajina, but also the fact that the ARBiH played a key role in liberating parts of Croatia during the military operation Storm.
“Almost all military analysts agree that without the role of the ARBiH, Storm would not have been possible. Also, the President of Croatia, Milanovic, called the new indictments against generals – based on the verdict of The Hague court against the six from BiH – a political abuse. Apparently, Milanovic expects that we will trade murdered children and civilians to gain Croatia’s support on our path to the European Union (EU). I tell Milanovic – that there is no trading, we do not accept blackmail. Everyone must answer for the crimes they have committed. Nothing is more valuable than truth and justice, which we will never give up,” Helez stated, Klix.ba writes.
