NEW YORK, June 12 (Hina) - Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are against attempts to equate responsibility for war and suffering in the area of former Yugoslavia and they are expecting that proceedings Zagreb and Sarajevo have initiated
before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will establish the accountability of the state authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) for the aggression and genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, read a Joint Statement issued on Monday by Croatian and Bosnian Ambassadors to United Nations in New York, Ivan Simonovic and Muhamed Sacirbey respectively. The diplomats Simonovic and Sacirbey are legal representatives of their countries in the proceedings against the FRY before the International Court of Justice. "These proceedings were initiated with the aim to ascertain both the full truth about the suffering and loss of lives incurred in Bo
NEW YORK, June 12 (Hina) - Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are
against attempts to equate responsibility for war and suffering in
the area of former Yugoslavia and they are expecting that
proceedings Zagreb and Sarajevo have initiated before the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) will establish the
accountability of the state authorities of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia (FRY) for the aggression and genocide in Bosnia-
Herzegovina and Croatia, read a Joint Statement issued on Monday by
Croatian and Bosnian Ambassadors to United Nations in New York,
Ivan Simonovic and Muhamed Sacirbey respectively.
The diplomats Simonovic and Sacirbey are legal representatives of
their countries in the proceedings against the FRY before the
International Court of Justice.
"These proceedings were initiated with the aim to ascertain both
the full truth about the suffering and loss of lives incurred in
Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia, as well as the
legal, political and historical accountability for them," read the
joint statement.
The two ambassadors stressed that "the proceedings are not directed
against Serbs" in the two countries. "Rather they are directed
against the State authorities of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, which are to be held responsible for the aggression,
suffering and loss of lives incurred and genocide committed against
the Croats and Bosniaks," it added
"The States and Peoples of Southeast Europe have all too frequently
fallen victim of prejudices and attempts by some international
circles to equate responsibility for suffering and losses incurred
to all sides, which thwarts progress in resolving a whole range of
outstanding issues," the joint statement warns.
The Croatian and Bosnian ambassadors recall that, unlike the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, their countries are cooperating
with the Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal for former
Yugoslavia (ICTY). In addition, their countries are willing to try
suspected war criminals before their national courts.
Zagreb and Sarajevo expect from the proceedings before the
International Court of Justice, amongst other things, "to shed
light on the overall framework of tragic events that occurred on the
territory of the former Yugoslavia and to establish responsibility
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in particular, of its
leadership, for aggression, heavy suffering of all our citizens, as
well as genocide committed on the territories of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia," the statement read.
Simonovic and Sacirbey believe that the cooperation between
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia in the actions they are taking
before the ICJ will contribute to "democratisation, reconciliation
and the establishment of lasting peace and stability in the
region."
(hina) jn ms