Yesterday’s first-instance verdict against Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic represents only a part of justice for the victims of the committed crimes, said Sefik Dzaferovic, a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
“The greatest significance of this verdict is that the existence of a comprehensive joint criminal enterprise, which has been conducted against the non-Serb population in BiH and Croatia since August 1991, has once again been confirmed by the institutions of international justice,” told Dzafefovic.
He adds that “it is extremely important that this verdict clearly states that the permanent relegation of the non-Serb population was a goal shared by the political leaders of Serbia, the so-called Serb Republic of BiH and the self-proclaimed autonomous regions in Croatia.
“As for the individual responsibility of the two of them, the 12-year sentence is certainly too lenient and unsatisfactory, as well as the fact that, except for Bosanski Samac, they were not found guilty of all the crimes in the indictment,” he added.
He expects this to be rectified during the appeal procedure.
“On the other hand, the fact that the involvement of the head of state security of Serbia and Milosevic’s right hand in the crimes in BiH has been proven is of historical significance. Serbia will have to face its role in aggression and committing and supporting crimes in BiH,” concluded Dzaferovic, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
