THE HAGUE, Sept 13 (Hina) - Legal representatives of the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) on Monday held their first working meeting with the President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in
the ICJ offices in The Hague to discuss a further procedure after Croatia filed an application with this Court on instituting proceedings against Belgrade for genocide.
THE HAGUE, Sept 13 (Hina) - Legal representatives of the Republic of
Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) on Monday held
their first working meeting with the President of the International
Court of Justice (ICJ), in the ICJ offices in The Hague to discuss a
further procedure after Croatia filed an application with this
Court on instituting proceedings against Belgrade for
genocide.#L#
At the meeting with the ICJ President, American Stephen Schwebel,
both Croatia and Yugoslavia said they would need six months to
prepare court depositions.
Croatia was represented by Justice Minister Zvonimir Separovic, a
U.S. lawyer David Rivkin and Croatia's Ambassador Jaksa Muljacic.
Croatia will first expound its application and submit evidence for
accusing Yugoslavia of having violating the Genocide Convention.
Thereafter Yugoslavia can respond to documents given by Zagreb and
even submit a counterclaim.
On Monday, Yugoslav representatives already announced they would
submit the counterclaim, said Minister Separovic after the
meeting, adding the strength of arguments was on his country's
side.
On July 2, this year, Croatia lodged the application with the Hague-
based ICJ accusing Yugoslavia of having committed genocide between
1991 and 1995.
Croatia expects from this top judicial body of the United Nations to
issue a verdict that Yugoslavia committed genocide in Croatia and
that it should pay reparations.
Croatia explained its suit saying that by directly controlling the
activity of its armed forces, intelligence agents and various
paramilitary units on the territory of the Republic of Croatia, in
the Knin area, eastern and western Slavonia and Dalmatia, the FRY is
liable for the "ethnic cleansing" of Croatian citizens from
aforementioned areas.
Croatia has also accused Belgrade of the ethnic cleansing of Serbs
following the operations "Flash" and "Storm". According to
Croatia's application, Belgrade directed, encouraged and urged
Croatian citizens of Serb ethnicity in the Knin region to evacuate
the area in 1995, despite Croatian authorities' assurances that
local Serbs had nothing to fear and should stay.
The Genocide Convention was violated with the occupation of one
third of the Croatian territory, which left over 20,000 killed
citizens, more than 120 mass graves, 55,000 wounded, 3,000 missing
people and caused direct damage amounting to US$27 billion,
according to the application of Zagreb.
The Genocide Convention, adopted by the UN General Assembly in
1948, defines genocide as activities aimed at destroying, in whole
or in part, a national ethnic, racial or religious group.
For Croatia the proceedings are legally and historically
grounded... This is the consequence of what happened in Croatia
from 1991 to 1995 when an aggression was launched, war waged and
violence committed against Croatia while it struggled for its
independence, Separovic said after Monday's meeting.
We believe and have great chances to prove and we shall do our best
to prove that we suffered from genocide and aggression against
Croatia and the Croatian people, the minister added.
"As of today for Croatia yet another court works in The Hague. This
court is for us absolutely affirmative as it starts from the
position of Croatia as a victim," the Croatian minister said.
The ICJ, the top UN judicial body, was constituted after World War
Two to settle disputes between states. Parties in a dispute can only
be countries and not institutions or individuals.
Asked about Croatia's chances to receive reparations from
Belgrade, Separovic replied that "moral condemnation of the
aggressor is more important" for his country.
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