Bosnia's Fight for Truth: Preserving the Hague Tribunal's Legacy

Amir Ahmić was appointed Bosnia and Herzegovina's liaison officer to the ICTY in The Hague in 1998. Alija Izetbegović, Bosnia's first president, suggested this appointment. Ahmić worked for 25 years with this UN court. He is an expert on its work. The Tribunal investigated aggression, joint criminal enterprises (UZP), genocide against Bosnjaks, and war crimes in Bosnia from 1992 to 1995.

Ahmić recently published "Victory of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Cooperation and Legacy of the Hague Tribunal." The book is a vital record of Bosnia's fight for truth and justice. It documents how Bosnian entities helped prove crimes before the Tribunal. Its goal is to protect truth from revisionism and denial.

Ahmić said his book's main message is a legal victory of facts. These facts counter attempts to erase crimes and their context. The Tribunal left final judgments and evidence that cannot be removed. Bosnia's support was crucial to the Tribunal's success.

Ahmić explained that the Tribunal confirmed an international conflict in Bosnia in eight cases. It found that Serbia (SRJ) and Croatia waged aggressive war. They sent military units and had "general control" over their agents in Bosnia. Their goal was to create Greater Serbia and Greater Croatia. The Tribunal also ruled on UZP plans. Milošević and Tuđman led these plans, which began in 1991. Their aim was to exterminate Bosnjaks. Ahmić called these strong legal arguments: criminal plans were made, then Bosnia was attacked using proxies.

He emphasized that Bosnian wisdom and persistence won. Facts triumphed over lies and propaganda. This was a legal victory against large-state projects with criminal plans. Leaders from Serbia and Croatia were involved, as the Tribunal ruled. Bosnia won a historic legal battle. Ahmić declared Bosnia a victor, not just a victim. While not all perpetrators were punished, the Tribunal established many facts about crimes, perpetrators, and the war's political context.

The book's second message is that the fight for justice continues. The Tribunal's legacy must move into domestic justice, education, archives, and public life. If its findings are not passed to new generations, the victory will be incomplete. The third message highlights the essential role of witnesses, victims, state vision, and individuals, including journalists, for the Tribunal's existence.

Ahmić discussed the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), the Tribunal's successor. Russia wants it closed and worked against extending Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz's mandate. The Dutch government tried to lease the IRMCT building. Ahmić linked this to the controversial 2002 NIOD report. That report absolved Serbia and Slobodan Milošević. Ahmić advised state institutions not to engage with NIOD, calling its report a dangerous act of revisionism.

Ahmić noted the paradox of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić's funeral becoming a political rehabilitation. Bosnia faces issues when it fails to react to denial of judgments, glorification of criminals, and revisionism. He believes powerful nations have often shifted their policies regarding the Tribunal. The perseverance of the Prosecutor's Office helped preserve the Tribunal's legacy. Victims like the Mothers of Srebrenica still need support from institutions and individuals.