Prime Minister joins the wave of criticism.
“This verdict is an embarrassment for the Hague Tribunal and represents a defeat for the Hague prosecution”, said Croatian Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković commenting in Vukovar on the acquittal of Vojislav Šešelj, reports Večernji List on March 31, 2016.
The Prime Minister added that this was a man who had committed crimes and who had not shown any remorse, neither today or at the time when the crimes were committed. He pointed out that Šešelj is still burning the Croatian flag and the flag of the European Union. “The Hague Tribunal has made its ruling. I hope that Serbia will react because the path to the European Union is the right way, and I expect to see the right decisions and behavior from our neighbors”, said Tihomir Orešković.
Asked whether Croatia would condition Serbia’s accession to the European Union by fulfilling certain conditions, Orešković said that the conditions for joining the EU are clear to everyone and that we all know what Croatia had to do on that path. “Serbia will have to pass the same path. Nothing has changed”, said Orešković.
The verdict from the Hague Tribunal has been condemned by the Mayor of Vukovar Ivan Penava as well. He said that the tragedy had been turned into in a tragicomedy.
“Let us forget for a moment Vojislav Šešelj, because this was supposed to be a judgment to the Greater Serbia policy which finished as it did. And this judgment clearly indicates to the Croatian people, just like in 1991 and forever and ever, that we have to rely on ourselves, our traditions and culture, not counting on the help of international stakeholders who had been silently watching the crimes that were committed in 1991. We have to turn to ourselves, respect everyone, but to expect help, support or justice from the outside, that would be an illusion”, said Penava.
