Trial In Croatia For Gotovina, Cermak And Markac

Because the Croatian court have proven themselves capable of leading complex procedures, we have the right to action, said Mesic.

The President of Croatia Stjepan Mesic stated today in Split, that Croatia has the right to seek the trials of Gotovina, Cermak and Markac, because Croatia has shown that it is capable of leading the most complicated procedures, and that the procedure against the “Vukovar Three” should also be carried out in Croatian courts. He added that the indictment against Sljivancanin, Radic and Mrksic, when the prosecution was taken over by Carla del Ponte, was reduced to only the crimes committed on Ovcara, a farm near Vukovar.

Mesic: We can lead the procedures so that justice is done

Mesic answered questions from the press concerning the shameful verdict on the “Vukovar Three”, after visiting the NATO exercise “Noble Midas”.

- Our justice system has already proven that it can lead those procedures, and even though it was given the trials of Ademi and Norac, which are taking place according to all of the elementary rights that govern in democratic countries, we have the full right to seek that the procedures against Gotovina, Cermak and Markac be carried out before the Croatian courts – said the president.

- We have the right to action, which should be led by institutions, and formalize such a request with the belief that all of those procedures will be led so that justice is served – added Mesic.

By concluding that the procedure against the “Vukovar Three” should be carried out in Croatian courts, the president reminded that the first Hague indictment against Sljivancanin, Radic and Mrksic was a lot wider, and that they were being charged with three types of criminal activities. However, when the prosecution was taken over by Carla del Ponte, it all came down to only one act, the crimes committed on Ovcara.

- The incarceration of civilians, the transfers to concentration camps, the torture and killing of civilians and prisoners outside of Ovcara, and the destruction of the city, are many of the things that are not included in the indictment – said Mesic.

Who failed in the trial of the “Vukovar Three”?

Now we can expect that the court increase the shameful sentences, in accordance to the crimes committed, but only for Ovcara.

- Who failed is a big question, and the chance to charge them with the rest of the criminal activities before the Hague Tribunal can not be returned. However, the Croatian justice system has started a procedure, and can use the materials that the Hague has in order to put them on trial in Croatian courts – added Mesic.

Mesic was asked if he considered that the verdict on the “Vukovar Three” was a part of the plan of the Hague Tribunal. He answered that he does not believe that to be so, and that he does not want to evaluate the decision of the court, but that the guilt should be searched for in the Hague prosecution.

- I think that they considered it enough to prove that one terrible crime on Ovcara, in order for justice to be served. I assume that the prosecution considered that to be enough – said Mesic, stressing that it has turned out that for the guilty it was enough to prove that they were not present that day on Ovcara, considering that the crime was planned a lot earlier.

- I think an oversight is in question, rather than something intentional. Regardless, it changes nothing, because the result is injustice – concluded Mesic.

Mesic: there is no dispute between me and premier Sanader

Concerning the alleged dispute between him and the Croatian premier Ivo Sanader, about who will attend the UN general meeting, president Mesic answered that “there is no dispute” and that he does not insist on anything, besides that the approach and strategy towards the Hague Tribunal is discussed and agreed upon.

- I am not insisting on anything, I am only voicing certain complaints, and that we must agree when we go on a mission like this. There are no unsolved issues – said Mesic.