OSTOJIĆ: COURT RULING IN DURAKOVIĆ CASE ANOTHER BLOW TO JUSTICE FOR SERB VICTIMS

BANJA LUKA, MAY 28 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska Minister of Labor and Veterans' and Disability Protection Radan Ostojić has said today that the acquittal of Bosniak general Ramiz Duraković is another proof that there is no justice for Serb victims.

"After the first-instance ruling, which required the proceedings to be returned to the beginning, it could already be expected in which direction this process was heading, and that has now been confirmed," Ostojić told reporters in Banja Luka.

He stated that, unfortunately, this is neither the first nor the last such case involving those who led formations of the so-called Army of BiH.

"On the other hand, proceedings are ongoing against Serb soldiers and politicians, there are more than 200 cases, as well as a huge number of convictions of Serbs, while there are almost no proceedings against members of the other two peoples in BiH," Ostojić stressed.

He said there had been expectations that the "distorted judiciary of BiH" would move in a better direction regarding impartiality and the prosecution of Bosniaks and Croats, but that the latest case showed there is no justice for Serb victims.

"Given the practice so far, I do not expect better treatment in the future either. All that remains is to pray to God that divine justice reaches those who committed crimes against Serbs during the Defense-Homeland War,", Ostojić said.

The Appellate Panel of the BiH Court today acquitted former commander of the 43rd Brigade of the so-called Army of BiH Ramiz Duraković of charges of war crimes against Serb civilians in the Čajniče area in 1993, stating that it had not been proven he had knowledge of the crimes committed.