UN court rejects Balkan genocide claims
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E-mail CRI, February 4, 2015
The United Nation's top court has ruled that Serbia and Croatia did not commit genocide against each other's people during the bloody 1990s wars sparked by the breakup of the former Yugoslavia.
The International Court of Justice does say forces on both sides did carry out violent acts during the war.
However, presiding judge Peter Tomka says neither side has provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate the "specific intent required for acts of genocide".
"In view of the fact that dolus specialis has not been established by Croatia, its claims of conspiracy to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and attempt to commit genocide, also necessarily failed. Accordingly, Croatia's claim must be dismissed in its entirety."
The Croatian government has accused Serbia of committing genocide in the town of Vukovar and other places in 1991.
Serbia later filed a counter claim over the expulsion of more than 200-thousand Serb forces from Croatia.
The decisions by the ICJ, which are final, are being considered by some as a step toward ending the lingering animosities between the Balkan neighbors.
Croatian President Ivo Josipovic.
"Peace is the ultimate value. Here, no matter that the result was in fact an equalizer, the message of the whole court proceedings, based on the evidence presented, tells us that war crimes, aggression should always be prevented."
For his part, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic is describing the ruling as a promising step.
"Despite the injustice, a promising step was made today. I truly hope that in the days ahead of us, there will be enough courage for Serbia and Croatia, in good faith, to solve all their problems together, and to lead our region into a permanent period of peace and prosperity."
Around 20-thousand people were killed during the war between the two neighbors, one of several to shake the Balkans in the 1990s following the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.
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