The former commander of Bosnia's Croatian Defence Council's (HVO) Vitez battalion was welcomed by his wife Slavica and their daughters, his mother, brother, relatives, and numerous friends and fellow fighters, including another Hague tribunal indictee, General Rahim Ademi, who is on provisional release pending trial, and his wife.
"Don't ask me how I feel at this moment because I can't feel anything until I see him and hug him," said Slavica Cerkez, adding that a week ago, when she last saw her husband in The Hague, she had no idea she would see him again so soon and a free man to boot.
The visibly excited and happy Mario Cerkez was especially moved when he saw his five-month-old grandson for the very first time.
Although he was met by numerous reporters at Split's airport, Cerkez declined to make any statements, leaving in a hurry.