The Croatian Bishops' Conference (HBK) said in a statement, issued on Wednesday in response to the recent ICTY verdict against Croatian generals Ante Gotovina, Ivan Cermak and Mladen Markac that the formulation "joint criminal enterprise" is an unfounded and grave insult to the Croatian people, and to justice in general, stressing that truth and justice were the basic prerequisites for peace and mutual understanding.
"This is also how we feel about the verdict against the Croatian state leadership at that time and the generals who led campaigns to liberate territory during the war. We believe that these judgments could provide dangerous and indirect support for new violence, as well as a source of further injustice in the world, " the statement said.
Therefore, the continuation of the trial in this case merits the maximum sensitivity of legal experts to the truth and justice, as well as the attention of the entire international community for a final just verdict in this case, the bishops said.
They once again urged Croatian citizens, despite the injustices endured, to retain their dignity, peace of heart and clarity of mind.
"We call everyone to harmony, unity and perseverance in seeking and accepting the full truth and justice," the bishops said.
The bishops called on the faithful to pray.
"We express our Christian and human solidarity with the convicted generals, Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markač, and with their families," said the bishops, who also expressed their solidarity with "all innocent victims and people, regardless of their ethnic affiliations," who suffered during the Homeland War.
The bishops once again urged the authorities to investigate the crimes that were committed and punish them justly, in order for justice to become the servant of peace in the region.
