The bill the Croatian government has sent to parliament declaring null and void Serbian legal acts regarding Croatia's 1991-95 Homeland War is not in keeping with the European democratic practice, a state secretary at the Serbian Justice Ministry, Slobodan Homen, said on Thursday, adding that the authorities should not interfere in the work of the judiciary.
Speaking to the press in Belgrade, he voiced hope the bill would not be passed, saying it was perhaps a pre-election move.
"As far as Croatia is concerned, it has not acted on our warrants until now either, so this is nothing new," Homen said, adding that an indictment against someone in Croatia for crimes committed in the 1990s did not mean they were automatically guilty but that they must prove their innocence in court.
The separation of powers in Croatia should be the same as in Serbia and other democracies, he said, adding that no law or document by the executive or legislative authorities should protect someone from criminal accountability.
Proceedings will continue on the basis of any indictment for which there is enough evidence, said Homen.
He recalled that there was no statute of limitations on war crimes and said he expected other countries to act in accordance with the warrants that were issued.
The Croatian government has sent to parliament a bill declaring null and void as well as without any legal effect all legal documents issued by the former Yugoslav People's Army, its judicial bodies as well as those of the former Yugoslavia and of Serbia which refer to the Homeland War and in which Croatian citizens are suspected, accused or convicted.
