"Operation Storm was legitimate"

Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz says Operation Storm was "a legitimate action aimed at liberation of occupied territory". The onslaught against the ethnic Serb areas of Croatia was carried out by the country's army and police in 1995. "Operation Storm was legitimate" Speaking for the Zagreb-based daily Vijesnik, Brammertz however added that "this does not mean that it was permissible to commit crimes during the operation". Brammertz noted that the operation was carried out in the Croatian territory which had for several years been "under occupation by local Serbs", and also "aided by Serbia and the Yugoslav People's Army". But the attack was qualified as a joint criminal enterprise "due to the crimes committed, which does not constitute a verdict against Croatia but rather against certain individuals," Brammertz reassured. During a conference on the challenges for international criminal investigations held in London on April 20, Brammertz said that the case of Operation Storm refers to a joint criminal enterprise and crimes two Croatian generals were convicted for, but he pointed out that it is a fact that the operation was a liberation action, Vjesnik notes. The Hague Tribunal earlier this month found former Croatian generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac guilty of committing war crimes and sentenced them to 24 and 18 years in prison. The court found that the goal of the joint criminal enterprise was to forcefully and permanently remove the Serb population from Croatia. Brammertz is scheduled to visit Belgrade on May 4, as part of the preparations for his regular June report to the UN Security Council.

"Operation Storm was legitimate"

Speaking for the Zagreb-based daily Vijesnik, Brammertz however added that "this does not mean that it was permissible to commit crimes during the operation".

Brammertz noted that the operation was carried out in the Croatian territory which had for several years been "under occupation by local Serbs", and also "aided by Serbia and the Yugoslav People's Army".

But the attack was qualified as a joint criminal enterprise "due to the crimes committed, which does not constitute a verdict against Croatia but rather against certain individuals," Brammertz reassured.

During a conference on the challenges for international criminal investigations held in London on April 20, Brammertz said that the case of Operation Storm refers to a joint criminal enterprise and crimes two Croatian generals were convicted for, but he pointed out that it is a fact that the operation was a liberation action, Vjesnik notes.

The Hague Tribunal earlier this month found former Croatian generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markač guilty of committing war crimes and sentenced them to 24 and 18 years in prison.

The court found that the goal of the joint criminal enterprise was to forcefully and permanently remove the Serb population from Croatia.

Brammertz is scheduled to visit Belgrade on May 4, as part of the preparations for his regular June report to the UN Security Council.