ICJ Rejects Genocide Claims of Croatia, Serbia

President of the Court, Judge Peter Tomka (C) during the verdict on genocide claims brought up by Croatia against Serbia, at the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, The Netherlands, 03 February 2015. Photo: EPA

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Tuesday that Croatia and Serbia had not committed genocide against each other during the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995).

In 1999 Croatia filed a claim against Serbia on alleged violations of the 1948 Genocide Convention, committed during the wars in former Yugoslavia, particularly at the siege of Vucovar in 1991.

Later Serbia filed a counter-claim over the expulsion of more than 200 000 Serbs from Croatia, when Croatia launched its 1995 Operation Storm to regain its lost territories in the Krajina area.

President of the ICJ Judge Peter Tomka dismissed both the Croatian claim and the Serbian counter-claim on Tuesday, the BBC reports.

Judge Tomka explained that both sides had conducted violent acts during the war, but neither side had provided sufficient evidence that acts of genocide had been committed.

Earlier on Sunday, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic expressed opinion that the verdict of the ICJ will be of great importance for his country's relations with Croatia.

Dacic said that the judgement could conclude a process, that has lasted for the last 15-20 years, in which the two countries have hurled mutual accusations against each other.

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