YouSaid · the spoken record

Šimonović

lines on the record: 287
first: 1997-12-19
most recent: 2023-12-12
sittings or episodes: 39
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

“In her report (A/76/132) on rape as a grave and systematic human rights violation and a manifestation of gender-based violence against women, the former Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, highlights that the lack of a human rights-based approach, and legal shortcomings in the criminalization and prosecution of rape before a conflict, contribute to normalizing sexual violence during that conflict. We strongly encourage all States that have not yet done so to align their laws with international human rights, humanitarian and criminal law standards on rape and sexual violence.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We strongly support the calls by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and others for a rigorous investigation of allegations of sexual violence. The Murad Code will be very helpful for this and other similar purposes. If we want to improve prevention, we should keep in mind that conflict-related rapes and sexual violence do not exist in a vacuum or come out of the blue. The Secretary-General’s report points to structural gender- based inequality, gender-based violence and harmful social norms as some of the root causes of conflict- related sexual violence.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Mr. Šimonović (Croatia): Croatia aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the European Union, the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security (see S/PV.9016) and the LGBTI Core Group, and I would like to add some remarks in my national capacity. I would like to thank the United Kingdom presidency and the distinguished briefers. As the report of the Secretary-General (S/2022/272) demonstrates, despite all the advances made in international law, conflict-related sexual and gender- based violence remains as pervasive as ever, and we are appalled that yet another country, Ukraine, will now have to be added to that unfortunate tally. The evidence of widespread rape and sexual violence in areas under Russian control has been growing since the start of the invasion.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Determining the fate of 1,853 still missing Croatian citizens is our long-standing priority. Last month, the remains of at least 10 people, their hands tied with wire, were found in a mass grave near the town of Vukovar. The discovery of that mass grave was the result of the sole effort of the Croatian authorities, clearly demonstrating that crucial information is still not being shared. In conclusion, let me reaffirm our strong support for the important work of the Mechanism and its successful completion.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“The Government of Croatia decided to reject the request to take over the prosecution of 14 high-ranking Croatian officers suspected of war crimes allegedly committed during the 1995 Operation Flash, based on the provisions of the act on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and the bilateral agreement on mutual legal assistance in civil and criminal matters. Those provisions were put in place precisely to prevent the misuse of the instrument of legal assistance for unsubstantiated defamation and harassment. We regret that the Prosecutor negatively reflected that decision in his briefing, raising unfounded allegations without understanding either the broader context or the clear legal basis for the decision of the Croatian authorities. Another important area of cooperation is tracing missing persons.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“As stated in several Prosecutor’s reports, Croatia is still waiting for Serbia’s response to its invitation to finalize the draft of a bilateral agreement on processing war crimes, whose conclusion would represent a significant step forward in judicial cooperation between the two countries. With regard to Croatia’s otherwise very good bilateral cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina, we recently witnessed the case of a politically motivated and factually and legally unsubstantiated request initiated by Republika Srpska and forwarded to Croatia through institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“The intimidation of witnesses is a serious crime that undermines accountability efforts, and it should be treated as such. The glorification of war criminals and the denial of genocide are unacceptable. They increase the suffering of the victims and take us further away from reconciliation. We especially condemn the recent cases of high-level glorification of Mladić, Stanišić and Simatović, as well as the consistent denial of the genocide committed in Srebrenica. Croatia is committed to continuing constructive, non-politicized and evidence-based judicial cooperation with other States of the region in war crime matters, but, as we have mentioned many times, meaningful cooperation is not a one-way process, and we expect other States to actively engage and contribute to improving relations.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“We sincerely hope that the Appeals Chamber will acknowledge the need for the coherence of judgments rendered by the former ICTY and the Mechanism and will convict Stanišić and Simatović for participation in a joint criminal enterprise, as well as for all crimes committed in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as requested by the Prosecutor. Fully aware of the challenges before it, we hope that the Mechanism will complete its remaining work soon. Rwandan fugitives must be apprehended and tried. The Mechanism’s referral of Serbia to the Security Council for a third time for the failure to arrest and transfer Petar Jojić and Vjerica Radeta must be efficiently dealt with, as requested in President Agius’s report (see S/2021/694).”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“We were surprised to find out that, although it established the existence of a joint criminal enterprise of Serbian perpetrators in Croatia, Serbia and Republika Srpska, it did not list Stanišić and Simatović among them. That decision departs from findings in the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 (ICTY) verdicts against Milan Babić and Milan Martić for crimes committed in Croatia, which established the existence of a joint criminal enterprise, in which Stanišić and Simatović, as Serbia’s top security officials, participated along with others, led by Slobodan Milošević.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“Mr. Šimonović (Croatia): I would like to welcome Judge Agius and Prosecutor Brammertz and thank them for their briefings today. The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals has made important headway since the previous briefing (see S/PV.8790) in June in completing its mandate. The Mechanism’s Appeals Chamber delivered its judgment confirming the fully deserved life sentence against Ratko Mladić for the worst atrocities, including genocide in Srebrenica. The Trial Chamber delivered its judgment in the retrial of Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović and found them responsible for aiding and abetting crimes against humanity committed by Serb forces following the takeover of Bosanski Šamac in April 1992.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“The Peacebuilding Commission should further develop its potential to prevent the deterioration of situations in countries at risk, as well as to build peace after the conflict and prevent its relapse. Through the Universal Periodic Review process, its recommendations and their implementation, the Human Rights Council can do more in terms of structural prevention and in making countries more resilient to conflict and atrocity crime risks. Its mechanisms, including special procedures, can provide the Security Council with a timely warning; they should therefore have better access to the Council. Finally, regular meetings of heads of principal United Nations organs as well as the Peacebuilding Commission and Human Rights Council would contribute to better coordinated and more efficient preventive work on the part of the United Nations.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906Resumption1 (2021) · source
“While conflict prevention diplomacy relies on classical diplomatic efforts, the essence of atrocity crimes prevention diplomacy is to convince people of influence to refrain from committing atrocity crimes and to help prevent them. Those involved in this specific kind of prevention should be impartial, but not neutral; they should always be siding with the victims, no matter who they are and to which side they belong. As previously mentioned, we need to improve the activities of the main United Nations organs aimed at conflict and atrocity crimes prevention and their coordination. However, we should not rely on the main United Nations organs only.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906Resumption1 (2021) · source
“By helping to reduce inequality within and between States and by furthering the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, it can provide more stability and resilience. The International Court of Justice plays an important role in the peaceful settlement of international disputes and in upholding and promoting the rule of law through its judgments and advisory opinions. Member States, as well as the principal United Nations organs, should therefore seek its very helpful services. Finally, the Secretary-General and the Secretariat should further increase their involvement in conflict prevention and atrocity crimes prevention diplomacy.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906Resumption1 (2021) · source
“However, in some cases it is unable to prevent conflicts and atrocity crimes due to divisions among its permanent members and the use of veto. Therefore, Croatia welcomes and supports efforts to restrain the veto power in case of atrocity crime threats, including the so-called code of conduct and the French- Mexican initiatives. The General Assembly should utilize its own powers to prevent conflicts and atrocity crimes more effectively and respond to them when they occur, especially when the Security Council fails to do so. It should also use the annual debates on the responsibility to protect to give the opportunity to all Member States to address their concerns. The Economic and Social Council can help to address the root causes of instability, conflicts and atrocity crimes.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906Resumption1 (2021) · source
“Mr. Šimonović (Croatia): We express our gratitude to Mexico for convening this open debate. We thank the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Economic and Social Council, the President of the International Court of Justice and the Secretary- General for their briefings (see S/PV.8906). The United Nations provides the only universal framework for finding common solutions to peace and security challenges in order to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. For the purposes of maintaining and sustaining international peace and security, all principal organs should perform and coordinate their preventive activities within their respective mandates. According to the Charter, the Security Council has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906Resumption1 (2021) · source
“We encourage its political leaders to assume responsibility for the future of the country and navigate through the present impasse. What the country needs is much more transparency, cooperation, democratic dialogue and compromises, and far less political and electoral manipulation, division and unilateral decision-making. That is the only way to overcome mutual fears and suspicions, curb unconstitutional unitarist and secessionist tendencies and promote democracy, development and human rights for all.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“Otherwise, the young and educated will continue to leave because of political insecurity, a poor economic situation and the overall lack of prospects, as the High Representative stresses in his report. In conclusion, Croatia continues its political and practical support to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia provided help to mitigate the consequences of the coronavirus disease pandemic, including through the donation of vaccines. Croatia has been assisting in addressing natural disasters, participating in joint infrastructure projects and sharing EU integration experiences. We call on international partners to join us in contributing to the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and promoting the necessary reforms, especially of the electoral system.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“Changes to electoral law and the constitutional setup of the country should be an outcome of democratic dialogue within Bosnia and Herzegovina that fully respects the rights of all of its constituent peoples and other citizens. Only then can Bosnia and Herzegovina, its peoples and all citizens get what they really need — legitimate, functioning institutions that will neither be manipulated or blocked. In order to ensure the legitimacy of the 2022 general elections, consensus on the electoral reform should be reached as soon as possible. Successful electoral reforms would ease political tensions and help to shift the country’s focus on priorities such as fighting corruption and implementing other reforms consistent with the 14 priorities of the EU accession agenda.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“Unfortunately, current electoral law and practice do not provide for such equality. For example, the existing electoral framework deprives Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina of their right to elect their legitimate representative in the State Presidency, because it allows for electoral engineering. That and other shortcomings are unacceptable, and electoral law needs to be changed. In its current form, electoral law weakens and delegitimizes key State institutions and negatively affects their functioning. We therefore strongly support the legislative changes necessary for the electoral law to comply with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights and the relevant decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially the Ljubić case.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“It is therefore critical that this discussion help to ease tensions and not add fuel to the fire. The current defiance of its Constitution, divisive rhetoric, glorification of war criminals, blockade of its institutions and lack of progress on electoral and other necessary reforms is extremely worrisome. Overcoming those challenges is important for the country and for the stability of the increasingly turbulent Western Balkans. Croatia supports a stable, peaceful and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina, its EU integration, the rule of law and human rights. As a signatory to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia remains a staunch supporter of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its territorial integrity as a sovereign State, based on the equality of its three constituent peoples and all citizens.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“Mr. Šimonović (Croatia): I wish to congratulate you, Mr. President, and extend our best wishes for your presidency. I would also like to congratulate Kenya on its successful performance. Croatia associates itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union (EU) its members and other aligned States. I would like to add some remarks in my national capacity. Croatia reiterates its support for the extension of the European Union Military Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to High Representative Christian Schmidt. We remain committed to working closely with the mission as well as with the Office of the High Representative. Since our previous debate (see S/PV.8810), tensions in and about Bosnia and Herzegovina have further increased.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“To this end, Croatia holds dialogues with other States and international organizations in the hope of establishing whereabouts of missing persons. Unfortunately, Serbia still does not invest sufficient energy in efforts to find the victims who went missing in the war. This issue has been raised on every possible occasion with Serbia’s representatives. In conclusion, let me reconfirm Croatia’s full support for the mission and work of the Mechanism. Croatia remains a strong supporter of international criminal justice, including this Mechanism as well as the International Criminal Court.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“Croatia is still waiting for Serbia’s response to its September 2019 invitation to the fourth and final round of negotiations, which we hope would result with the finalization of the draft text of a bilateral agreement on processing war crimes. Croatia continues to work to establish the whereabouts of the remaining wartime missing persons. While thousands of cases have been resolved, the search for 1,864 missing Croatian citizens and their remains is ongoing, without regard to their ethnicity. We must remember that behind every number there is a person, and behind every person there is a story that deserves to be told, in the hope that it might contribute to the reconciliation efforts and the peaceful coexistence of peoples as well as provide comfort to the families of victims.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“Recently, the Court sitting in single-judge formation issued the decision in which it found that Serbia has failed to comply with its obligations to arrest the accused, Petar Jojić and Vjerica Radeta, for contempt of the court and transfer them to the Mechanism. We underline the need for Serbia to fully cooperate with the Mechanism, including by fully accepting and implementing all of its rulings and decisions. Intimidation of witnesses is a serious crime that undermines accountability efforts, and it should be treated as such. We give great importance to the continuation of cooperation with other neighbouring States in matters related to war crimes. In this respect, we appreciate positive developments in cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia hopes to achieve the same progress with Serbia in due time as well.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“Croatia remains firmly committed to the development of good relations and cooperation with neighbouring States, and we strongly support their aspirations towards European Union membership, based on their full compliance with clear and well- known criteria, especially with regard to the rule of law, including full cooperation with the Mechanism. In order to persist on this path and deliver results, a strong political commitment is required, as well as a more decisive approach in processing war crimes. In that regard, we remain very concerned with Serbia’s lack of cooperation with the Mechanism.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“We have every confidence that the prosecution provided the Trial Chamber with enough evidence to determine beyond any doubt Stanišić’s and Simatović’s criminal responsibility for atrocity crimes committed in the armed conflicts in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as their role in the joint criminal enterprise. Since unfortunately the Milošević case did not end with the verdict against him, it is very important that this case ends with a judgment that clearly demonstrates involvement of the top Serbian authorities in atrocity crimes committed in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“Milošević’s most brutal henchmen — cannot fill that void, but at least it provides justice for some of their victims. Croatia is paying great attention to the progress of all ongoing cases, in particular the case against Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović, which is in the trial phase. We note the Mechanism’s efforts to minimize coronavirus-disease-related delays of trials, yet, despite these efforts, the Mechanism was regrettably not in a position to conclude the Stanišić and Simatović case as previously planned. Therefore, we urge the Mechanism to redouble its efforts to deliver its judgment by the end of this month, as stated in the report we have before us.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“What is more, they were never even included in his indictment, although Croatian authorities provided assistance to the ICTY Prosecutor’s Office by meeting their requests in this case. President Vučić pointed out that during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, no one was an angel. I will not discuss in this Chamber the many cases he mentioned because it is not the time or the place. However, I will mention that it is also quite clear who the devil was. Mr. Milošević’s death deprived us of the judgment that would have provided the framework for all individual atrocity crimes committed during the conflict in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Today’s final judgment and the life sentence against the General Mladić — one of Mr.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“Considering the gravest war crimes and crimes against humanity that were the subject matter of the indictment and the various joint criminal enterprises in which Mladić participated in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and keeping in mind that the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) had established that genocide was committed in Srebrenica, this judgment is appropriate. While the final judgment in the Mladić case brought a degree of relief to the families of his many victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including of the genocide in Srebrenica, we remind the Security Council once again that it was in Croatia in 1991 that he began his infamous warpath. Hundreds of his victims in Croatia never saw him stand trial for those crimes.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“Mr. Šimonović (Croatia): I thank the President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Judge Agius, as well as Prosecutor Brammertz, for their briefings today and for their recent reports. I wish to express my condolences to the family of Judge Kam. Croatia welcomes today’s long-awaited final judgment rendered by the Residual Mechanism, which confirmed the life-imprisonment sentence against Ratko Mladić for atrocity crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“Comprehensive transitional justice policy, if designed and implemented with broad and inclusive participation, in line with resolution 1325 (2000) and following resolutions, has the potential to provide recognition to victims, strengthen the rule of law, foster trust, empower women and promote social integration and reconciliation. It helps societies to heal and decreases the likelihood of future conflicts. However, transitional justice is a process. Sometimes we may have to be patient, especially with regard to individual accountability, but we should never quit. It may take decades, but Al-Bashir, Mladić and others who enjoyed impunity for their crimes while holding positions of power must finally be brought to justice.”
2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723Resumption1 (2020) · source
“In Croatia, some victims of sexual violence, their families and communities are still coping with devastating and lasting consequences. In 2015, the Croatian Parliament passed the Act on the Rights of Victims of Sexual Violence during the Military Aggression against Republic of Croatia, which grants reparations that may include financial compensation, a monthly stipend, access to free counselling, as well as legal and medical aid. Those benefits can be obtained through an administrative process. A court sentence is not required, which makes reparations faster and more accessible. The response of victims was good, and a number of them were finally compensated. Lessons were learned. First, to be able to compensate victims effectively, we need a victim- centred approach and, secondly, we should tailor restitution mechanisms accordingly.”
2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Croatia’s judicial system has also made significant progress in its ability and willingness to deal with war crimes. Public opinion towards war crimes has also evolved. Some initial one-sided views have been gradually replaced by the universalist paradigm that all crimes should be punished, no matter the affiliation of victims or the perpetrators. The clear lesson is that if in the heat of the moment mistakes are made, we must be brave enough to acknowledge and correct them. For various reasons, including cultural ones, it may take a long time for some victims to speak up and ask for help, if they do it at all. It especially concerns victims of sexual violence. Transitional justice also includes an acknowledgement of the fact that victims have been harmed and that they are entitled to an effective remedy and adequate reparations.”
2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Croatia was a strong supporter of the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). We have placed our trust in the Tribunal to serve as an impartial international justice institution that will help to establish the truth, punish the perpetrators of the worst war crimes, provide justice for the victims and shield populations from future brutalities. Although it did not deliver as much as we had optimistically hoped for, the Tribunal played an important role in giving a voice to the victims. It has demonstrated that crimes will not go unpunished and that the international community has found a means through which to react. Following the ICTY, other ad hoc tribunals, as well as the International Criminal Court, were established, learning from the ICTY’s best practices and its shortcomings.”
2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Mr. Šimonović (Croatia): Croatia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the observer of the European Union on behalf of its member States. I would like to make some additional remarks in my national capacity, focusing on lessons that can be learned from the Croatian experience. If I were to single out the most important lesson, it is that transitional justice is a process that takes time. Transitional justice activities started in Croatia as early as the first half of the 1990s, during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, and some are ongoing, a quarter of a century later. Both national and international criminal proceedings against some of the alleged perpetrators of war crimes started during the conflict but are also continuing to this very day.”
2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723Resumption1 (2020) · source
“They are humankind’s survival guide, but they should also be complemented by additional multilateral responses to newly emerging threats. The seventy-fifth anniversary of the Charter, the twentieth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, and the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of R2P create plenty of opportunities for discussion, hopefully leading to more effective action on the prevention of conflicts and atrocity crimes. We must reverse the negative trends. We the peoples demand it from us here and now.”
2020-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699Resumption1 (2020) · source
“It is not legally binding like the provisions of the Charter, but, in addition to being morally binding, it is also politically binding on all Member States, especially the members of the Security Council, which have special responsibilities under R2P. However, the primary aim of R2P is the prevention of atrocity crimes, not reaction to them. There are many things that could and should be done before the point of no return is reached and atrocities are committed. In preventing mass atrocities, peace and security, development and human rights aspects are closely interlinked. Therefore, the Security Council, the rest of the United Nations, regional organizations, Member States and civil society should be coordinating and acting together. In conclusion, we must uphold the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
2020-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Both initiatives reflect the spirit of the Charter and its intention to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. In a practical sense, it is crucial that those initiatives do not require an amendment to the Charter, which is, as we all know, extremely difficult because of procedural requirements, as well as vested interests. Croatia also supports and is a part of the multilateralism initiative. Current challenges, such as weapons of mass destruction, as well as cyber and environmental threats, can be successfully addressed only through joint, well-coordinated efforts. Croatia also upholds the responsibility to protect (R2P), as consensually adopted in the 2005 World Summit Outcome document (General Assembly resolution 60/1).”
2020-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Who sits on it is not the only issue; we would like to see the Council more engaged in preventing crises and dedicated to its Charter duties rather than any particular interest. In order to maintain the Council’s authority and relevance in maintaining global peace and security, we need more cooperation and global responsibility in its work. Therefore, Croatia welcomes and supports the initiative to establish a code of conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as the French-Mexican initiative whereby the five permanent members of the Council would commit to refraining from the use of veto in cases in which the commission of mass atrocities has been proven.”
2020-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699Resumption1 (2020) · source
“The Charter gives the Security Council the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Within the Council, special trust is given to its five permanent members, vested with special powers. However, such special powers, including a permanent seat on the Council, as well as the right to veto, are accorded to permanent members in the understanding that they would use them responsibly, benefitting all peoples and all United Nations Member States. Croatia has always been a strong and vocal advocate of multilateralism, while at the same time calling for the necessary reforms that would enhance the effectiveness and relevance of the Organization, especially the Security Council.”
2020-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699Resumption1 (2020) · source
“The end of the Cold War finally created a political climate that enabled more effective action in safeguarding peace and preventing mass atrocities. In addition to the better functioning of the institutions provided by the Charter, United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions, as well international accountability mechanisms, were introduced. For years, the number of conflicts and atrocity crimes were steadily decreasing. That is no longer the case. In recent years, the number of conflicts, as well as atrocity crimes, has been once again on the rise. Impunity is running rampant. The lack of decisive multilateral responses undermine the rules-based international order. Effective prevention is too often blocked by divisions in the Council and the use of veto by its permanent members.”
2020-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Mr. Šimonović (Croatia): Let me thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important debate. I also thank the Secretary-General and Mrs. Robinson for their valuable inputs. Croatia aligns itself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union (see S/PV.8699). I will add several points in my national capacity. The adoption of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were decisive moments in human history. In order to prevent the horrors of the Second World War from reoccurring, Member States decided to establish a powerful global organization to protect peace and to promote development and human rights. However, because of the Cold War, the promises envisaged by the Charter remained unfulfilled.”
2020-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Croatia remains firmly committed to the development of good relations and cooperation with neighbouring States, and we strongly support their aspirations towards European Union membership based on the full compliance with clear and well- known criteria, especially with regard to the rule of law, including full cooperation with the Mechanism. Our commitment to the European path of the whole Western Balkans region is visible in the priorities ofthe forthcoming Croatian presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2020. We will strive to keep the enlargement of the European Union as one of the key topics on our European agenda. In conclusion, Croatia stands ready to continue to extend our full support to the Mechanism, expecting it to complete its mandate in time. The meeting rose at 11.55 am.”
2019-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8681 (2019) · source
“To that end, Croatia is also holding dialogue with other States and international organizations in the hope of accomplishing results, and every year headway is made. Unfortunately, Serbia still shows no readiness to open all its archival records. Political will should be shown in Belgrade, and we call on the Serbian political leaders to focus on those efforts rather than on divisive political rhetoric, which only perpetuates antagonism. Cooperation in addressing the issue of missing persons remains a key element of our dialogue and a part of the criteria that Serbia needs to meet under its European Union accession negotiations. We are ready to continue dialogue that will produce tangible progress on those issues.”
2019-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8681 (2019) · source
“That is only one recent example that shows that Serbia is still, unfortunately, not willing to face its own past and its role in the war that it initiated in the 1990s. Such decisions and moves by Serbian authorities go against Croatia's efforts to build good- neighbourly relations, and we call on Serbia to stop glorifying war crimes. Croatia stands ready to cooperate with its neighbours and assist them in overcoming the remaining obstacles to facing the past as a precondition for lasting peace and meaningful reconciliation. The unresolved fate of missing persons is highly ranked on Croatia's list of priorities. The suffering of the families of missing persons demands that ofus, and we are pursuing all our efforts to trace and identify the fate of our missing nationals or their remains.”
2019-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8681 (2019) · source
“Last month, Croatia marked another mournful anniversary of the tragedies and atrocities of war in the autumn of 1991. Besieged for three long months and levelled to the ground, the city of Vukovar and its inhabitants suffered a fate unseen in Europe from the Second World War up until that point. White crosses at the Vukovar cemetery stand today as a reminder of the massacre and of the victims exhumed from mass graves in and around the city. A few days before the anniversary, a memorial plaque commemorating the commander of the Yugoslav People's Army and the Serbian paramilitary forces during the attack on Vukovar was unveiled in a Serbian army complex in the city of Novi Sad.”
2019-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8681 (2019) · source
“Croatia is continuously undertaking activities towards Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, with the aim of improving cooperation in the prosecution of war crimes. In the past two years, the Ministers of Justice of Croatia and Serbia have met several times and two joint commissions have been established. One would work on a bilateral agreement on cooperation regarding the prosecution of war crimes and the other on the exchange of lists of persons accused or convicted of war crimes. The commissions have worked but have not made any recommendations yet. We express our hope that the commissions will resume their work shortly. Also, with respect to Bosnia and Herzegovina, we expect improvement in the transfer of cases from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia.”
2019-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8681 (2019) · source
“Petar Jojie and Vjerica Radeta case will soon be resolved, and we once again underline the need for Serbia to fully cooperate with the Mechanism. Croatia is committed to continuing constructive and effective judicial cooperation with other States of the region in war crimes matters. We recognize the increasingly urgent need to end impunity and overcome the legacy of the past, including through justice for all victims of past atrocities. As time passes, it becomes more and more difficult to hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes. But as we have said many times, meaningful cooperation is not a one-way process, and we expect other States to show their willingness to actively engage and contribute to improving relations.”
2019-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8681 (2019) · source
“Jovica Stanisic' and Franko Simatovic' trial case. They are of the utmost importance to the legacy of accountability for aggression against Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last decade of the twentieth century, especially because the crucial case against former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic unfortunately did not end up with a verdict. More than a quarter century after the establishment of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), thousands of victims and their loved ones are still waiting for justice to be served. We expect all cases to be completed within the planned deadlines and without any delays, and we encourage the Mechanism to maximize its efforts to that end. Also, we hope that the contempt of court proceedings in the Prosecutor v.”
2019-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8681 (2019) · source
“I welcome the President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Judge Agius, as well as Prosecutor Brammertz, and thank them for their comprehensive briefings today, as well as for their respective reports. Let me start by reiterating Croatia's full support for the mission and work of the Mechanism. Croatia remains a strong supporter of international criminal justice. Croatia has done its part in ensuring accountability. Many trials have been completed to date, and some are still ongoing as our institutions continue to investigate and prosecute war crimes committed during the war in the 1990s. When it comes to the Mechanism's ongoing work, 2020 will be a significant year with the completion of important cases, in particular the appeal of the case Prosecutor v. Ratko Mladic and the Prosecutor V.”
2019-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8681 (2019) · source