Tadić slams Mesić in strongly worded statement

President Boris Tadic today reacted to his Croatian counterpart Stjepan Mesic's decision to shorten prison sentence of a Croat war criminal. Mesic on Thursday reduced by one year jail time served by Sinisa Rimac, convicted of killing 23 ethnic Serb civilians in Croatia in 1991. Tadic slams Mesic in strongly worded statement Today, Tadic said that Mesic's move was an "anti-civilizational" gesture that cannot be justified. "When the outgoing Croatian president pardons a criminal who killed Serb children just because they are of a different ethnicity, then that is an act that deserves every condemnation, a deeply anti-civilizational and anti-European decision [coming] from the other side of common sense," said the president. Tadic also pointed out that Mesic's "regrettable decision" was only one in a series, including today's visit to Pristina, "which is in a very efficient manner spoiling relations with Serbia, leaving a serious and unnecessary burden to his successor". Tadic stressed that it is the task of all regional countries to fully cooperate with the Hague Tribunal, and that this means that those war criminals tried before domestic courts must get their deserved punishment. "That punishment must be justice and innocent victims served, and should in no way be reduced or annulled through discretionary decisions which essentially make crime relative and relieve the most horrid criminals of their guilt," the president said in his statement.

Tadić slams Mesić in strongly worded statement

Today, Tadić said that Mesić's move was an "anti-civilizational" gesture that cannot be justified.

"When the outgoing Croatian president pardons a criminal who killed Serb children just because they are of a different ethnicity, then that is an act that deserves every condemnation, a deeply anti-civilizational and anti-European decision [coming] from the other side of common sense," said the president.

Tadić also pointed out that Mesić's "regrettable decision" was only one in a series, including today's visit to Priština, "which is in a very efficient manner spoiling relations with Serbia, leaving a serious and unnecessary burden to his successor".

Tadić stressed that it is the task of all regional countries to fully cooperate with the Hague Tribunal, and that this means that those war criminals tried before domestic courts must get their deserved punishment.

"That punishment must be justice and innocent victims served, and should in no way be reduced or annulled through discretionary decisions which essentially make crime relative and relieve the most horrid criminals of their guilt," the president said in his statement.