Vukovar case: Radić returns to Belgrade

Former JNA officer Miroslav Radic, set free by the Hague court in the Vukovar Three trial, will return to Serbia today. National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal chief, Rasim Ljajic, has confirmed that Radic, acquitted of all charges in connection with the November 20, 1991, execution of more than 250 Croatian prisoners in Ovcara, Vukovar, will arrive in Belgrade this evening. Vukovar case: Radic returns to Belgrade "I've been in touch with his lawyers. There were some difficulties with the documentation, but that's been arranged. He is returning to Belgrade on a regular flight," Ljajic told reporters Friday. Asked to comment on the verdict, which acquitted Radic, but found Mile Mrksic and Veselin Sljivancanin guilty, sentencing them to 20 and five years in prison respectively, Ljajic declined. "I have never commented on Hague verdicts, even when there was plenty of reasons to say something in the past," he said. "The court has spoken, and there is nothing more to add," Ljajic said. Meanwhile, the Hague prosecution, headed by Carla Del Ponte, said it will appeal yesterday's decision. In Croatia, the public and politicians are unhappy with the outcome of the Vukovar Three trial. Thursday's verdict has caused shockwaves in that country, agencies report. Following the reading of the judgement, members of associations created in the wake of the war gathered together in a sign of protest. Yesterday, until late at night many Vukovar residents gathered at the Ovcara memorial to light candles for the 200 victims from the Vukovar hospital, and to express their bitterness at yesterday's verdict at the Hague Tribunal. Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader joined the protest last night. Danijel Rehak, president of the Croatian Association of Prisoners in Serbian Concentration Camps, thought the verdict too lenient, while Ivan Kovacic, president of the Croatian Association of Vukovar Veterans, Vukovar 91, considered it "a disgrace." “If that’s justice, then the Hague Tribunal should be scrapped,” said Kovacic. "The verdicts for the Vukovar Three have caused bitterness, it’s a political decision, humiliating for the victims, their families, and the Croatian nation,” stated Manda Patko, president of the Society of Vukovar Mothers. “The Vukovar Three would have got a harsher sentence had they been tried in Belgrade,” said the last commander of the defense of Vukovar, Branko Borkovic, aka Young Hawk, adding that the verdict had been "politically motivated," and showed disrespect to the Croatian legal state, “because an investigation against the Three had not been carried out in Croatia.” Vukovar mayoress Zdenka Buljan felt that the verdict in the case of the Vukovar Three had been "a slap in the face to the whole world," and expressed the fear that it would "reflect badly on the future of the town."

Vukovar case: Radić returns to Belgrade

"I've been in touch with his lawyers. There were some difficulties with the documentation, but that's been arranged. He is returning to Belgrade on a regular flight," Ljajić told reporters Friday.

Asked to comment on the verdict, which acquitted Radić, but found Mile Mrkšić and Veselin Šljivančanin guilty, sentencing them to 20 and five years in prison respectively, Ljajić declined.

"I have never commented on Hague verdicts, even when there was plenty of reasons to say something in the past," he said.

"The court has spoken, and there is nothing more to add," Ljajić said.

Meanwhile, the Hague prosecution, headed by Carla Del Ponte, said it will appeal yesterday's decision.

In Croatia, the public and politicians are unhappy with the outcome of the Vukovar Three trial.

Thursday's verdict has caused shockwaves in that country, agencies report.

Following the reading of the judgement, members of associations created in the wake of the war gathered together in a sign of protest.

Yesterday, until late at night many Vukovar residents gathered at the Ovčara memorial to light candles for the 200 victims from the Vukovar hospital, and to express their bitterness at yesterday's verdict at the Hague Tribunal.

Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader joined the protest last night.

Danijel Rehak, president of the Croatian Association of Prisoners in Serbian Concentration Camps, thought the verdict too lenient, while Ivan Kovačić, president of the Croatian Association of Vukovar Veterans, Vukovar 91, considered it "a disgrace."

“If that’s justice, then the Hague Tribunal should be scrapped,” said Kovačić.

"The verdicts for the Vukovar Three have caused bitterness, it’s a political decision, humiliating for the victims, their families, and the Croatian nation,” stated Manda Patko, president of the Society of Vukovar Mothers.

“The Vukovar Three would have got a harsher sentence had they been tried in Belgrade,” said the last commander of the defense of Vukovar, Branko Borković, aka Young Hawk, adding that the verdict had been "politically motivated," and showed disrespect to the Croatian legal state, “because an investigation against the Three had not been carried out in Croatia.”

Vukovar mayoress Zdenka Buljan felt that the verdict in the case of the Vukovar Three had been "a slap in the face to the whole world," and expressed the fear that it would "reflect badly on the future of the town."