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UN court: Serbs 'did not conduct genocide' against Croats UN court dismisses Croatia and Serbia genocide claims
(35 minutes later)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has ruled that Serbia did not commit genocide in Croatia during the Balkan Wars. The International Court of Justice has ruled that Serbia and Croatia did not commit acts of genocide against each other during the Croatian war of secession from Yugoslavia.
It is still issuing its ruling on a counter claim of genocide from the Serbian side.
The Croatian government had alleged that Serbia committed genocide in the town of Vukovar and elsewhere in 1991.The Croatian government had alleged that Serbia committed genocide in the town of Vukovar and elsewhere in 1991.
Serbia later filed a counter claim over the expulsion of more than 200,000 Serbs from Croatia. Serbia later filed a counter-claim over the expulsion of more than 200,000 Serbs from Croatia.
About 20,000 people died during the 1991-1995 war, when Croatia broke away from Yugoslavia. About 20,000 people died during the 1991-1995 war, mostly Croatians.
The Croatian town of Vukovar was devastated when it was occupied by Serbs for three months in 1991. Tens of thousands of ethnic Croats were displaced, and about 260 Croat men were detained and killed.The Croatian town of Vukovar was devastated when it was occupied by Serbs for three months in 1991. Tens of thousands of ethnic Croats were displaced, and about 260 Croat men were detained and killed.
Four years later, the Croatian military's Operation Storm bombarded the majority ethnic-Serb Krajina area, forcing about 200,000 people from their homes.Four years later, the Croatian military's Operation Storm bombarded the majority ethnic-Serb Krajina area, forcing about 200,000 people from their homes.
Speaking in court on Tuesday, Judge Peter Tomka ruled that Serbia did not commit genocide in the war, and said Croatian case was "dismissed in its entirety". Speaking in court on Tuesday, Judge Peter Tomka dismissed both the Croatian claim and the Serbian counter-claim.
The evidence provide by the Croatian side was not sufficient to prove that the acts committed by Serbian forces had the "specific intent required for acts of genocide", he said. Forces on both sides had carried out violent acts during the war, Judge Tomka said. However, neither side had provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate the "specific intent required for acts of genocide".
UN 1948 Genocide ConventionUN 1948 Genocide Convention
Croatia filed its initial case with the ICJ - the top UN court - in 1999, accusing Serbs, led by President Slobodan Milosevic, of targeting ethnic Croats during the conflict. Croatia filed its initial case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - the top UN court - in 1999, accusing Serbs, led by President Slobodan Milosevic, of targeting ethnic Croats during the conflict.
It wanted Serbia to pay compensation for damages "to persons and properties as well as to the Croatian economy and environment".It wanted Serbia to pay compensation for damages "to persons and properties as well as to the Croatian economy and environment".
In 2010, Serbia responded to Croatia's case with a countersuit, saying that ethnics Serbs were expelled when Croatia launched its 1995 operation to retake territory captured by Serbs.In 2010, Serbia responded to Croatia's case with a countersuit, saying that ethnics Serbs were expelled when Croatia launched its 1995 operation to retake territory captured by Serbs.
The BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague says that for some this legal judgement will help to shed light on what actually happened during the darkest years of the Balkans. The BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague says although genocide is the most serious of international crimes, it is also the hardest to prove.
Although genocide is the most serious of international crimes, it is also the hardest to prove, our correspondent adds.
The ICJ is responsible for deciding whether the parties are guilty of genocide, incitement to commit genocide or complicity in genocide.
Both sides have said they will accept the verdicts, which began at 10:00 local time (09:00 GMT).
'End of a process''End of a process'
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic earlier described the verdict as "one of perhaps the most important events for our bilateral relations with Croatia".Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic earlier described the verdict as "one of perhaps the most important events for our bilateral relations with Croatia".
"It will probably be the end of a process that has lasted for 15-20 years [and] will put an end to both sides' fight to prove who the worst criminal is," he told reporters on Sunday."It will probably be the end of a process that has lasted for 15-20 years [and] will put an end to both sides' fight to prove who the worst criminal is," he told reporters on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Croatian Justice Minister Orsat Miljenic has previously said that the government's main goal is to "present what happened in the war and that was aggression against Croatia".Meanwhile, Croatian Justice Minister Orsat Miljenic has previously said that the government's main goal is to "present what happened in the war and that was aggression against Croatia".
"Expectations have already been met" through the case being discussed at the ICJ, Mr Miljenic added in quotes carried by AFP. "Expectations have already been met" through the case being discussed at the ICJ, Mr Miljenic added.
Relations between the two countries have improved in recent years but in 2012 Serbia was outraged when Operation Storm commander Ante Gotovina, was cleared on appeal by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).Relations between the two countries have improved in recent years but in 2012 Serbia was outraged when Operation Storm commander Ante Gotovina, was cleared on appeal by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
Last week, ahead of the verdict, Vukovar resident Kata Lozancic told Reuters news agency that she believed genocide had taken place in her town.Last week, ahead of the verdict, Vukovar resident Kata Lozancic told Reuters news agency that she believed genocide had taken place in her town.
"Everything from cultural and natural sites, to people, everything was destroyed," she said. "The town and its vicinity are full of former camp sites, places where they held people in detention, searched them, tortured them.""Everything from cultural and natural sites, to people, everything was destroyed," she said. "The town and its vicinity are full of former camp sites, places where they held people in detention, searched them, tortured them."
Meanwhile, a refugee in Serbia, identified only as Dragica, expressed unhappiness at the Croatian government's claims.Meanwhile, a refugee in Serbia, identified only as Dragica, expressed unhappiness at the Croatian government's claims.
"They expelled us Serbs, and now they [claim they] are not criminals, and we are," she told Reuters."They expelled us Serbs, and now they [claim they] are not criminals, and we are," she told Reuters.
"[They say] we ran away... [but] who would be crazy enough to run away from their own home, leaving everything behind, everything we worked so hard for.""[They say] we ran away... [but] who would be crazy enough to run away from their own home, leaving everything behind, everything we worked so hard for."
Former Yugoslavia was a Socialist state created after World War Two. It consisted of six republics: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.Former Yugoslavia was a Socialist state created after World War Two. It consisted of six republics: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.
The federation began falling apart in the early 1990s. Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Macedonia declared independence, sparking conflicts with the Serb-dominated Yugoslav army. All four countries were eventually recognised as independent by the UN.The federation began falling apart in the early 1990s. Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Macedonia declared independence, sparking conflicts with the Serb-dominated Yugoslav army. All four countries were eventually recognised as independent by the UN.
In 2006, Montenegro also emerged as a sovereign state after a referendum for independence, ending the former Union of Serbia and Montenegro.In 2006, Montenegro also emerged as a sovereign state after a referendum for independence, ending the former Union of Serbia and Montenegro.