YouSaid · the spoken record

Drobnjak

lines on the record: 486
first: 1993-04-19
most recent: 2019-07-23
sittings or episodes: 54
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Let me finish by quoting from the recent joint statement of the Justice and Peace Commissions (Justitia et Pax) of the Bishops Conferences and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia, which took place earlier this month: "Today the Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina are the most endangered part of the Catholic Church on the entire European continent". The Commissions appealed to the international community to extend more efficient assistance to the country as to ensure that genuine and real equality of the three constituent peoples - Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs - and all other citizens is achieved in the whole territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a supporter and advocate of Bosnia and Herzegovina's stability, prosperity and territorial integrity, Croatia echoes this appeal.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Furthermore, we encourage our neighbour to proceed without delay with the reform of the judiciary in order to strengthen its independence, professionalism, accountability and impartiality. It is also important that Bosnia and Herzegovina assume ownership of its judiciary institutions. The implementation of all outlined and much-needed reforms will strengthen the country from within and give impetus to everybody in Bosnia and Herzegovina - all constituent peoples and all citizens - to move forward on the European and Euro-Atlantic path.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“We urge all who are genuinely interested in the democratic stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take action on the prolongation of a situation in which decisions of the central judicial body are not obeyed or implemented. The question of institutional stability is crucial to the capability of Bosnia and Herzegovina to efficiently and promptly fulfil its obligations arising from the process of European integration and to fight political radicalism and elements ofreligious extremism. Croatia is ready to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in improving its institutional and administrative capacity and in meeting the requirements on the path to the integration in the EU.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Politically dominant actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to reject the implementation of the aforementioned decision of the Constitutional Court, thereby demonstrating their determination and persistence in opposing the realization of the constitutional principle of the equality of the three constituent peoples. We recall that the enjoyment of rights emanating from that principle represents the very foundation on which Bosnia and Herzegovina is built as a State and therefore should be seen as conditio sine qua non. In accordance with its responsibilities and obligations as a signatory to the Dayton Agreement and as a country that shares a 1,000-kilometre land border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia cannot remain silent and inert while witnessing the continuation ofsuch destabilizing policies.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“The reform of the Election Law therefore presents a welcome opportunity to ensure the institutional equality of the three peoples and all citizens, and a chance to leap forward towards political stability and a more integrated country. The refusal to implement the decision of the Constitutional Court on the reform of the Election Law further jeopardizes the fragile stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina, thereby leaving open the space for further political manipulations, which have, as witnessed in the recent past, a destructive impact on the equality of the smallest in number of the three constituent peoples.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“As shown by the recent institutional crisis caused by the application for revision of the judgment in the genocide case against Serbia, focus must be maintained, as well, on urgent political questions so as to achieve stability and prevent future internal destabilization. The most urgent political question is the reform of the Election Law, especially in the light of the decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina dated 1 December 2016 and the decision of the Constitutional Court on the city of Mostar. The former decision states that certain provisions of the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina are in contravention to the Bosnian Constitution, since they breach the constitutional principle of the equality of the three constituent peoples - Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs - and their right to legitimate representation.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“The political impasse and divisive rhetoric pose the risk of derailing Bosnia and Herzegovina from the path of much-needed reforms and undermining the very functionality and stability of the country. Furthermore, we are deeply concerned at the fact that political polarization, intensified by years of economic hardship, is increasing radicalization and extremism within Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially among the younger population. This deterioration fits within the wider context of the challenges facing south- eastern Europe. In that context, we have to put all the tools at our disposal to good use. Besides socioeconomic reforms and the implementation of the reform agenda, it is of the utmost importance not to lose sight of the political issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Flexible cross-border cooperation and tangible benefits from EU funds enable people at the local level to feel closer to the EU. On the Euro-Atlantic front, Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved concrete results, namely, the adoption of the defence review and a solid record in the registration of defence property, making the activation of the NATO membership action plan plausible and justified. While progress has been achieved in a number of fields, including the economy, political crises, often repetitive in nature and substance, continue to plague the political landscape ofBosnia and Herzegovina. This has a negative impact on reform-oriented processes and is preventing Bosnia and Herzegovina from moving forward and unleashing all of its potential.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“We have supported the application of Boston and Herzegovina for membership in the European Union. We want to encourage the authorities at all levels of Government to redouble their efforts to submit credible, well-prepared answers to the European Commission's questionnaire, so that we can discuss the candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina as soon as possible. We would like to see Bosnia and Herzegovina catch up with its neighbours in the field of the European integration, and in pursuit of this pivotal goal we shall continue to extend our political, technical and expert support. In addition, Croatia would like to stimulate greater cross-border cooperation on the part of local and regional self-government units on both sides of the border, which should result in the implementation ofjoint projects and better use of EU funds.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“A stable, peaceful and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina where genuine institutional equality among the three constituent peoples and all citizens is guaranteed should play a valuable role as a generator of stability in south-eastern Europe as well as a contributor to the stability of the European Union as a whole. The European and Euro-Atlantic perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its consequent EU and NATO membership is a goal that Croatia will continue to staunchly support. We see this as the best catalyst for addressing outstanding internal issues as well as a safeguard for further democratization, the strengthening of institutions, and ensuring freedom of the media and an independent judiciary. The implementation of the reform agenda is also vital to achieving this goal.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Croatia aligns itself with the statement just delivered by the observer of the European Union. I shall now make a statement in my national capacity. As a signatory to the Dayton Peace Agreement, Croatia bears special responsibility for the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia is Bosnia and Herzegovina's first European Union (EU) neighbour and trade partner. Relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina are therefore one of Croatia's foreign-policy priorities and its integration into the European Union and NATO our strategic goal.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“We are ready to take part in these events, share our experiences and engage in discussions on how best to ensure its lasting legacy.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“Croatia is carefully following all remaining cases before the ICTY and the Mechanism and expects their efficient and swift conclusion. While ICTY has irreversibly shaped contemporary international criminal justice and the world's attitude towards impunity, let us not forget that the work is not done yet and that countless Victims are still waiting for justice to be served. In this regard, the final chapter in the work of the Tribunal and the Mechanism must also live up to expectations, in particular with regard to the scrupulous interpretation and appropriate implementation of international humanitarian and human rights law. Finally, Croatia is considering with interest the proposal developed within the Tribunal for a series of legacy and closing events.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“Croatia, as a State member of the European Union (EU) whose judicial system was under intense scrutiny during its successful accession to the EU and with an established record of accomplishment in prosecuting war crimes, stands ready to assist its neighbours in that regard. Croatia will not be deterred in its staunch support for the European and Euro-Atlantic perspective of the region, in particular that of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the best impetus for the strengthening its institutions and the independence of its judiciary, as well as for guaranteeing the equality of its constituent peoples. Let me reiterate again that full cooperation with ICTY must be ensured and that both the Tribunal and the Mechanism must receive all necessary support to complete their mandates on time.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“We emphasize the need to establish a consistency of jurisprudence across the country and to achieve better harmonization of case law in criminal matters. In parallel, the level of expertise needs to be improved in order to ensure international and European standards in the prosecution of war crimes, as well as consistency in the evidentiary and legal characterization of cases. We emphasize once again the utmost importance of refraining from any form of manipulation or bias in investigation and prosecution processes. The work of the judiciary must remain impartial and independent, outside and above daily politics. That goes both for cases transferred by ICTY to national courts and to those initiated by domestic prosecutors.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“These circumstances must change; they must improve in order to fully pave the way for the advanced regional cooperation that we long for. Any assessment of this complex field must take that into account. The judiciary in some parts of the region, while still struggling with inherent deficiencies, appears also to be increasingly subject to unwarranted interference as regards the prosecution of war crimes. For instance, in Bosnia and Herzegovina we note with concern inconsistencies in the prosecutorial approach, depending on the nationality of the accused, thus resulting in different laws and legal institutions being involved in war crimes prosecutions against individuals belonging to the different constituent nations in that country.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“One has died in the meantime; the other was sentenced to 10 years in prison and released early. Such a misbalance between the magnitude of crime and the smallness of justice served is something we shall always have in mind while making the final, historical evaluation of the Tribunal. Throughout the years, Croatia has spoken extensively in this Chamber on the subject at hand. Our position regarding the ICTY is well known. So while we face the Tribunal's final chapter in its 23 years of existence, let me just add the following. It is important to note that regional cooperation in criminal matters is evolving not in a vacuum, but against the backdrop of conditions so clearly described in the reports before us.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“Besieged for three long months in 1991, that once prosperous baroque city on the Danube was leveled to the ground with 6.5 million projectiles. Finally, on 18 November 1991, the city fell into the hands of its invading oppressors. Today, 938 white crosses in the Vukovar cemetery recall some of the victims - those exhumed from mass graves in and around the city. This includes the site at Ovcara, where some 270 sick and wounded were taken from the Vukovar hospital and brutally executed. The crosses also stand as a reminder of the 86 children killed during the siege, the youngest being a six- month-old infant. Some 291 persons from Vukovar are still missing. For the horror of Vukovar, which at the time was the largest massacre in Europe after the Second World War, the ICTY convicted two persons.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“Allow me first to welcome the Presidents of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Judges Agius and Meron, as well as Prosecutor Brammertz. I thank them for today's briefings and reports, and reassure them again of Croatia's full support for their continuous efforts to ensure accountability and promote the fight against impunity. Last month we marked the sorrowful twenty- fifth anniversary of the tragedy of the Croatian city of Vukovar. This is no ordinary event for Croatia; on the contrary, the tragedy of Vukovar has a special place in our history and our memory, so I pay a tribute to Vukovar by starting my speech today in this way.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“In this regard, the need for the depoliticization of the judiciary and for its impartiality and independence, especially in the prosecution of war crimes, should receive strong focus. Bosnia and Herzegovina, a State with a 1,000-kilometre-long land border with Croatia and the EU, remains our priority, and we shall spare no effort The meeting rose at 12.25p.m. to help our neighbour on its path towards enhanced stability and long-term prosperity.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“We encourage the finding of a solution for the implementation of the Constitutional Court ruling on Mostar, so that its citizens are not deprived of their right to vote. Croatia encourages the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement the Sejdic' and Finci ruling in order to move forward its European agenda and contribute to establishing a democratic and well-functioning society in which the equality of all constituent peoples and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina is guaranteed and safeguarded. Finally, the rule of law must be promoted and protected, including the fight against corruption and organized crime, while all outstanding deficiencies of the judiciary must be addressed.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Local elections, while on the whole conducted in a peaceful and orderly way, revealed divisions and mistrust in an environment in which it is crucial to promote tolerance and coexistence. Moreover, the incident that took place in Stolac involved a violent physical assault against a representative of the Central Election Commission. Any violence or election irregularities should be condemned in the clearest possible terms. We trust the local institutions to find institutional solutions to problems as well as to investigate and prosecute unlawful activities. We also regret the fact that the elections in Mostar were not held together with the local elections in the rest of the country, on 2 October.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“In order for Bosnia and Herzegovina successfully to address all of the challenges that it will face at the next stage of the European integration process, all available European tools and policies should be put at its disposal. Croatia will, for its part, make available its expertise and know-how from our accession process. The progress made on the European path has not been mirrored by internal developments. On the contrary, some of the internal political dynamics are cause for concern. We have said it before and we will say it again: the referendum held in Republika Srpska runs counter to the decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and undermines the stability of the country. Such activities challenge the founding principles of the Dayton Peace Agreement and are unconstitutional and dangerous.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Additionally, it has helped Bosnia and Herzegovina step out of the stalemate and bring the country to the next stage of its relations with the European Union. We have invested a great deal in Bosnia and Herzegovina's stability and in fostering the EU agenda through all of the EU's instruments, including through the Special Representative and Operation Althea of the European Union-led peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR). It is important for the EU to remain actively engaged in preserving safety and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina; that is why we support the extension of the executive mandate of EUFOR Althea and its substantial contribution.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Steps forward have been taken on the Reform Agenda-related laws that have been adopted at both the State and entity level. The credibility and sustainability of reforms must be sustained in the interest of all citizens, the State itself and regional stability. The agreement on the coordination mechanism achieved in July is of great importance for the credible implementation of the Stabilization Association Agreement and, later, the negotiations with the EU. Croatia is looking forward to the finalization of the process of the adaptation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with a swift signing and the provisional application of the Protocol. We can say that the new EU approach has proved effective and is yielding its initial results.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“We see the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU and NATO as the best catalyst for addressing internal outstanding issues as well as a safeguard for ensuring further democratization, the strengthening of institutions, freedom of the media and an independent judiciary. We welcome the September conclusions of the Council of the EU, which tasked the Commission with preparing an opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina's application for membership in the EU. This is an important milestone for Bosnia and Herzegovina because it reaffirms its commitment to the process of European integration, including European values and standards. This important development is the result of the hard work and commitment of the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we commend them for that.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina are therefore a foreign policy priority and its integration into the European Union and NATO a strategic goal of the Republic of Croatia. This was clearly demonstrated by the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina was the first country that the new Prime Minister of Croatia visited after taking office. A stable, peaceful and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina contributes to the stability of South-East Europe as well as to that of the European Union as a whole. The European and Euro-Atlantic perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a goal that Croatia will continue to staunchly support.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Let be start by congratulating you, Sir, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council this month. I also thank the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Inzko, for his important report (S/2016/911, annx) and his valuable work. Croatia aligns itself with statement delivered by the observer of the European Union (EU) and I would like to make some remarks in its national capacity. As a signatory to the Dayton Peace Agreement, Croatia bears a special responsibility towards Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina's first EU neighbour, also bears a special responsibility towards Croats as one of the constituent peoples, whose genuine institutional equality with the other two peoples and all citizens will enable a more functional, viable and efficient, and thus stable, Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“And we must learn from our previous failures; unfortunately, we cannot correct some of the tragic mistakes, but at least we can avoid repeating them.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“Adequate representation of female personnel is another crucial element in our efforts to combat sexual violence, promote gender awareness among the host nations' populations, and improve relationships between peacekeepers and local citizens. To contribute to this goal, Croatia has organized two United Nations training courses - in May 2015 and another in April 2016 - for female police officers from several countries of Asia and Africa as predeployment preparation for peacekeeping operations. In conclusion, we must translate our normative and policy progress into concrete action to protect human life, reaffirm the principle of humanity, and save millions of people in far too many conflicts and crisis areas around the world.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“We believe that efforts must be undertaken with a view to improving the performance of all actors that share a stake in protecting innocent civilians from violence. It is therefore crucial to develop comprehensive protection strategies in close consultation with host Governments, local authorities, contributing countries and other relevant actors. Additionally, Member States must ensure that their military and police personnel uphold the highest values of human rights and receive predeployment training in line with United Nations standards. In that vein, we should strengthen our responses to sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations missions and demand full accountability at all levels. It is absolutely impossible for us to tolerate that some who come to protect become perpetrators themselves.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“Fourthly, the peacekeeping and peacebuilding reviews under way are bringing prevention to the centre of international peace and security discussions. We need to ensure that it remains there and that it is transformed into concrete action. We have stated on multiple occasions that the protection of civilians is first and foremost the responsibility of national authorities. However, the international community has to assume its part of the responsibility for protection and take collective action through the Security Council if and when national authorities manifestly fail to protect their populations. Croatia fully supports the code of conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as the French-Mexican initiative on the suspension of the veto power in cases of mass atrocities.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“Secondly, the Human Rights Up Front initiative and the responsibility to protect are pivotal prevention tools at hand, and we must use them to the best of our ability in order to strengthen national capacities to detect and respond to early signs of violations and risks of atrocious crimes. Thirdly, the concept of sustaining peace must lie at the core of our efforts to ensure protection of civilians. This involves the effective elimination of the root causes of conflict, starting with the lack of development, justice and respect for human rights. The Sustainable Development Goals and all the related achievements in 2015 provide us with the tools required; there can be no excuse for not using them.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“Although significant progress, in particular at the normative level, has been made in the past two decades since this Council recognized the protection of civilians as central to its mandate, it has not yet been sufficiently translated into a systematic and consistent protection of civilians on the ground. Protection of civilians is currently mandated in the majority of peacekeeping missions, which represents a step forward, but what really matters is the final action on the ground. For us, strengthening the protection of civilians in armed conflicts should be centred in the following points. First, all parties should comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and, when atrocities do occur, accountability must be ensured. The International Criminal Court plays a particularly important role in this regard.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“The reasons for those tragic failures, which brought so much suffering and which will keep haunting many people for years to come, were not only due to the insufficient presence of the Blue Helmets on the ground, but also because the United Nations troops lacked a clear, precise mandate for what would seem their foremost duty - the protection of civilians from military and paramilitary attacks. A point that was valid then is equally valid today. We are faced with the frightening reality of unprecedented suffering caused by conflicts in many parts ofthe world, and the credibility of United Nations peacekeeping operations depends largely on their ability to act when civilians are threatened. In peacekeeping operations, there can be no higher duty than that.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“I will start by thanking the French presidency for convening this important debate on an issue that should be at the very core of our efforts in the Organization. Croatia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union. I will now make some additional remarks in my national capacity. A quarter of a century ago, the United Nations and the international community were unable to protect civilians in my own country in an effective manner and failed to stop genocide in Srebrenica and in Rwanda.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“Their work is not over, as thousands of victims and their loved ones are still waiting for justice to be served and historical truth to be established. On our part, we will continue to render our support and assistance to them in completing their work. Finally, the fact that I will not comment in any way on Serbia's comments today in no way implies that Croatia agrees with them.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“Generations to come and history will be unforgiving of our failure to do so. Croatia stands ready to cooperate with its neighbours and assist them in overcoming the remaining obstacles in facing the past as a precondition for lasting peace and meaningful reconciliation. I will repeat what I have stated on previous occasions in the context of prolonged proceedings by expressing our hope that in the case of Prlic et al., the Tribunal will find ways not to prolong this complex case, keeping in mind the targeted completion strategy. With their contribution to international criminal justice, the ICTY and the Mechanism, albeit being temporal institutions, will undoubtedly leave behind a permanent legacy.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“As recently as 9 May, Veselin Sljivancanin, the war criminal convicted for the Vukovar hospital massacre, was a guest at the official military parade commemorating Serbian armed forces and, paradoxically, the liberation of Europe. It is a gruesome predicament that it was precisely Sljivancanin who in 1991 pointed out Igor Kacie, the boy with the little dolphin, separated him from his mother and sent him to a horrific death together with hundreds of others. Convicted war criminals have no place on ceremonial stages or in public life. They belong on the margins of society and civilization as an example and eternal reminder of failed policies that led to unspeakable atrocities. We have to prevent the demons of the past and their toxic ideology from shaping our present or our future.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“We call again upon our neighbour to comply with the Tribunal's requests without any further delay, and we remind it that full cooperation with the ICTY is an international obligation and an essential political condition e as part of political criteria for the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process - and legal condition - as part of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Serbia and the European Union - throughout the accession process of Serbia to the European Union. Croatia also shares the grave concerns of the Office of the Prosecutor about the participation of Tribunal-convicted war criminals in election campaigns during the reporting period, where convicted persons appeared at campaign events for Serbian political parties or on public television.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“At this point, allow me to quote the dissenting opinion of Judge Lattanzi, who stated that in reading the judgment she felt "thrown back in time to a period in human history, centuries ago, when one said [...] silent enim leges inter arma". Today we cannot allow the law to fall silent in times of war and its aftermath. We remain deeply concerned about Serbia's continued failure to fully cooperate with the Tribunal and execute the Tribunal's arrest warrants for three Serbian indictees.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“Therefore, it is with deep regret that we come to realize today that Goran Hadzie, just like his superior and mentor Slobodan Milosevic, will never be held accountable for Igor's stolen youth and the extinguished lives of many others. We are deeply disappointed, dismayed and concerned with the first instance judgment in the Seselj case. On this matter, the President of Croatia, Ms. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, wrote to this body to alert it to the judgment and its consequences. The judgment, issued by a majority only a week after the Karadeic' decision, seems to totally ignore legal and factual findings previously established by the ICTY. We concur with the prosecution's assessment that the Trial Chamber erred both in law and in fact, and expect that the appeal trial will bring long-awaited justice for Seselj's victims.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“It is difficult to understand the Trial Chambers' logic in this case after realizing that, during his provisional release, Hadzie had time enough, and seemed to be fit enough, to plan for his second marriage, on which the media repeatedly reported. Igor Kacie was only 16 years old when, on 20 November 1991, he was taken from the Vukovar hospital and executed, together with 259 other civilians and prisoners. At that time, that was the largest single massacre in Europe since the Second World War. Igor Kacie's body was exhumed from a mass grave in 1996. He still had on him a little dolphin that he carved in a shelter during the three-month siege of his city, as well as a couple oftoy cars. His life is lost forever, but we had hoped that at least justice would be served.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“In that vein, we are deeply troubled with the developments in the case of Goran Hadeic. HadZic' is charged with 14 counts of crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war, with the purpose of the permanent forcible removal of Croatians and other non-Serbs in Croatia from a large part of Croatia, envisaged to become part of greater Serbia. Although initially declared fit to stand trial, with an expected verdict to come this fall, HadZie's trial had been adjourned, and then suspended in 2015. More than a year ago, he was provisionally released due to his health. Regardless of the prosecution's attempts and motions for the continuation of the trial, the proceedings are now stayed indefinitely. And we just learned today that the trial in on the road to being terminated.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“Bearing in mind the fact that Karadzie himself participated in four joint criminal enterprises and that during most of the time under consideration he was the President of the Republika Srpska, as well as the Supreme Commander of its armed forces, his sentence does not entirely match the extreme gravity of the crimes committed, nor does it match when compared to some of the sentences given to his subordinates and co-perpetrators acting under his direct command in those crimes. Accordingly, we hope that the Appeals Chamber will carefully reconsider all factual and legal elements of the crimes attributed to Radovan Karadzie and appropriately assess his full responsibility. On many occasions in this Chamber, we have reiterated the importance of the completion of the remaining ICTY trials.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“Allow me to welcome the Presidents of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Judges Agius and Meron, as well as the esteemed Prosecutor Brammertz. We thank them for today's briefings and reports and commend their continued efforts to ensure accountability for international crimes for which they will continue to have Croatia's full support. Croatia welcomes the delivery of judgements in the appeal cases of Stanisie and Simatovie and the trial case of Radovan Karadzic. Karadzie's rightful conviction, including for the genocide in Srebrenica, must serve future generations as a prime example of the devastating consequences of a genocidal, expansionist policy.”
2016-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7707 (2016) · source
“Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have launched a joint project, funded by the EU, on the revitalization of an old railway route - a 200-kilometre railway track linking Dubrovnik, on the Croatian coastline, with the mountainous hinterland of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This historic route, which navigates through a very beautiful landscape, will be turned into a long-distance cycling track, thereby earning tourist income for the local populations on both sides of the border. This is where our joint future lies - in things and endeavours that connect us, together with our j oint European destiny.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“For that, not only the criminal has to be put behind the bars, but also his genocidal and criminal policy. We sincerely hope that more than 20 years after the war and its horrors, Bosnia and Herzegovina is firmly on the path towards a better, more prosperous, secure and stable future. We firmly believe that this future for Bosnia and Herzegovina lies within the community of the European Union and NATO States. We are looking towards the days when the biggest stories coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be about war crimes and suffering, or about irresponsible politicians threatening the very existence of the country they are supposed to serve, but stories like the one I would like to conclude my statement with - a story about a bike trail.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“Thirdly, with regard to accountability and reconciliation, in late March the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia delivered the long-awaited verdict in the case against Radovan KaradZic'. The Tribunal found him guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war committed by the Serb forces during the armed conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The verdict came 20 years after the war, during which unspeakable atrocities, such as the genocide in Srebrenica, were committed. Although Karadzie was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment, for the victims and their families it will take much more than this verdict to heal the wounds. Much more will be needed to achieve genuine reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source
“We note that decision of the members of the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska to call a referendum on the authority of the High Representative, the Court and the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina was not acted upon, but we regret that this decision of June 2015 has not yet been repealed. We are afraid that the Republika Srpska's political leadership may once again pursue divisive agendas in the context of the October municipal elections. This highly controversial decision has had a detrimental effect to the sovereignty and integrity of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It violates the Dayton Peace Agreement and has a strong potential to undermine the stability of the country and the wider region. We must not be silent about it; on the contrary, such conduct should be condemned in clear and definite terms.”
2016-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7688 (2016) · source