Obradovic: Croatian suit cynical, Serbs are genocide victims

THE HAGUE - The Serbian legal team began presenting its defence arguments concerning Croatia's genocide suit in the continuation of the dispute before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday, and in the next few days it will present Serbia's countersuit for the genocide committed against Serbs in Croatia in the clashes from 1991 to 1995.

Head of Serbia's legal team Sasa Obradovic noted addressing the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague that Serbs, not Croats, were the victims of genocide in armed conflicts in Croatia from 1991 to 1995.

Addressing the judges of the highest UN court, Obradovic underscored that Serbs are victims of genocide, though many Croats experienced grave hardships during the armed conflicts as well.

There is no doubt that many Croats suffered in the clashes and this case is a chance for all of us to remember their tragedy as well, Obradovic said and added that the war in Croatia caused major sufferings for Serbs who, faced with the separatist ideas of the then Croatian top government, decided to set up their own national entity known as the Republic of Serb Krajina.

He expressed regret that the Croatian legal team forgot to mention the Serb victims last week and noted that this is not fair towards them.

Obradovic underscored that the developments in Croatia in the '90s cannot be scaled down to a simplified image that depicts only the perpetrator of the genocide and its victim.

On behalf of the government and the nation of the Republic of Serbia, I once more express sincere regret for all the victims of war and crimes committed in Croatia during the armed conflicts, regardless of legal qualification of the crimes, nationality and ethnicity, Obradovic said...