"This ruling has great importance for the Republic of Serbia. The Serbian government advocated and advocates fair trials at the Hague tribunal because it is the only way to establish the truth about the crimes and create conditions for reconciliation and ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region," Dacic said in a written statement.
The importance of the acquittal was also highlighted by Stanisic's and Simatovic's lawyers, Belgrade's media reported.
One of Simatovic's layers, Mihajlo Bakrac, was quoted by Blic daily as saying that this ruling, as well as the previous acquittal of General Momcilo Perisic, "showed that the Serbs too have managed to find justice" at the ICTY.
Perisic's attorney Novak Lukic said the acquittal of Stanisic and Simatovic quashed the finding from the Milan Martic ruling that they had been members of a joint criminal enterprise.
He said today's acquittal as well as Perisic's acquittal "is very important also when it comes to the responsibility and direct involvement of Serbia in the wars in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia."
Stanisic's attorney Wayne Jordash said in The Hague his client would return to Belgrade on Friday and that Stanisic was shocked with joy at being acquitted, Belgrade's electronic media reported.
Jordash said the ICTY today proved that it could mete out justice.