Serbs in Croatia safe, says council president

Serb National Council in Croatia President Milorad Pupovac says there is potential to harm "both Serbs and Croats, as well as the entire region on its EU path" His comments came in the wake of the recent Hague Tribunal ruling which found former Croatian generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac guilty of war crimes committed against the country's ethnic Serbs 1995 during Operation Storm. Serbs in Croatia safe, says council president The verdict caused strong reactions and protests in Croatia. In an interview for the Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti, Pupovac however stated that there are no reasons for concern when it comes to the security of Serbs in Croatia. The development of the situation largely depends on whether the media will continue creating "an almost hysterical atmosphere", he said. "If the media continue the campaign they started, and if it hits lower levels of the society, that is if does not remain within the media sphere, things may become complicated," Pupovac said. Fortunately, this has not yet significantly affected the citizens, he stressed. Pupovac assessed the Croatian government's reaction to incidents as abstained and balanced, and the statements of Serbian officials, above all President Boris Tadic, as level-headed. He believes that it is not realistic to expect any u-turns in Zagreb's policy, or the erasing the day of Operation Storm from the list of state holidays. "For now, it is enough for the reactions to remain level-headed," Pupovac underscored. "Regardless of the Hague verdict, I believe that the overall atmosphere, primarily on the political scene, does still not allow for one to discuss the possibility of withdrawal of Croatia's (genocide) lawsuit. In any case, one should wait for the things to settle down," Pupovac stressed. Pupovac expressed hope that the strong reactions will not frighten the Serbs and affect their taking part in the population census. "If the verdict for such severe criminal acts does not raise public consciousness about the character and proportions of those crimes, then the verdict did not really have effect," Pupovac added. Referring to the statements of former Croatian President Stjepan Mesic that Croatia's state officials, headed by former President Franjo Tudjman, knew what was going on during the Operation Storm, Pupovac said that "many people knew and still know what went on", adding that the Brioni transcripts from the meeting at which Operation Storm was planned were "only part of the evidence". Milorad Pupovac (FoNet, file)

Serbs in Croatia safe, says council president

The verdict caused strong reactions and protests in Croatia.

In an interview for the Belgrade-based daily Večernje Novosti, Pupovac however stated that there are no reasons for concern when it comes to the security of Serbs in Croatia.

The development of the situation largely depends on whether the media will continue creating "an almost hysterical atmosphere", he said.

"If the media continue the campaign they started, and if it hits lower levels of the society, that is if does not remain within the media sphere, things may become complicated," Pupovac said. Fortunately, this has not yet significantly affected the citizens, he stressed.

Pupovac assessed the Croatian government's reaction to incidents as abstained and balanced, and the statements of Serbian officials, above all President Boris Tadić, as level-headed.

He believes that it is not realistic to expect any u-turns in Zagreb's policy, or the erasing the day of Operation Storm from the list of state holidays. "For now, it is enough for the reactions to remain level-headed," Pupovac underscored.

"Regardless of the Hague verdict, I believe that the overall atmosphere, primarily on the political scene, does still not allow for one to discuss the possibility of withdrawal of Croatia's (genocide) lawsuit. In any case, one should wait for the things to settle down," Pupovac stressed.

Pupovac expressed hope that the strong reactions will not frighten the Serbs and affect their taking part in the population census.

"If the verdict for such severe criminal acts does not raise public consciousness about the character and proportions of those crimes, then the verdict did not really have effect," Pupovac added.

Referring to the statements of former Croatian President Stjepan Mesić that Croatia's state officials, headed by former President Franjo Tuđman, knew what was going on during the Operation Storm, Pupovac said that "many people knew and still know what went on", adding that the Brioni transcripts from the meeting at which Operation Storm was planned were "only part of the evidence".