The Hague’s verdicts in the cases of Generals Ante Gotovina, Ivan Čermak and Mladen Markač have brought anxiety to the hearts of many Croatian citizens and undermined their confidence in the institutions of justice and truth at the international level. We Croatian bishops, together with our congregations, share disbelief and sadness because of these rulings and the accompanying explanation. We are also concerned about their negative impact on the interpretation and historical assessment of the Croatian War of Independence, i.e., defense from Serbian aggression. We are afraid, moreover, that this will affect the international reputation of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian people as a whole, as well as the building of peace and justice in international relations.
We express our Christian and human solidarity with the convicted generals, Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markač, and with their families. We also express our solidarity with all innocent victims and people, regardless of their ethnic affiliations, who fell during the Homeland War on any battlefield, from Ilok and Vukovar to Konavle and Dubrovnik. Their pain and suffering warrant our sympathy and condemnation. Therefore, we urge all those responsible in our country to investigate the crimes that have been committed and punish them justly, in order for justice to become the servant of peace in our region. At the same time, we expect all those responsible in the world to defend steadfastly the principles of international law that should be the same for all, large and small nations. Only such justice and truth can be a guarantor and foundation for peace and mutual understanding.
The formulation “joint criminal enterprise” is an unfounded and grave insult to the Croatian people, and to justice in general. 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. 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.
We again urge the citizens of the Republic of Croatia, 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. We call the faithful to prayer. May they be inspired by the strength and dignity of the humiliated, condemned and risen Christ. May they be steadfast in His school of love that does not ask the price of sacrifice. May they pray for the enlightenment of the hearts of all those responsible for achieving the rule of justice and truth. Justice and truth are, in fact, prerequisites for peace and solidarity among people and nations.

The Bishops of the Croatian Conference of Bishops