Croatia criticized over war crime cases

Croatia´s ability to deal with war crimes committed by its own nationals is closely monitored by the European Union.

ZAGREB, March 11, 2010 (AFP) - Croatia's efforts in dealing with war crimes cases are insufficient and the country lacks the political will to efficiently handle them, human rights groups said on Thursday.

The efforts undertaken by the authorities regarding war crimes cases are "slow and ... as a whole they are insufficient," three non-governmental organisations, led by Documenta, which monitors war crimes trials, said in a statement.

They also warned against lack of "political will and strategy for efficient processing of war crimes."

The non-governmental organisations described 2009 as "another year of house cleaning" used to rectify "mistakes made in the work of the judiciary during the 1990s" when large numbers were sentenced in absentia "in unprofessionally and ethnically-biased proceedings."

While Croatia still tries alleged war criminals in absentia, the number of such trials has dwindled while there has been an increase in indictments against Croatians.

Between 2004 and 2009, the state attorney's office charged 426 people for war crimes, including 41 former Croatian soldiers.

Croatia's proclamation of independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 sparked a four-year conflict with rebel Serbs who opposed the move. The war claimed some 20,000 lives.

Croatia's ability to deal with war crimes committed by its own nationals is closely monitored by the European Union.

Zagreb hopes to join the 27-nation bloc by 2012.