Politicians from Bosnia’s Serb-dominated Republika Srpska (RS) entity reacted negatively, on Tuesday, to the second instance verdict to Ratko Mladic, the former general of the Bosnian Serb Army who received a life sentence for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia.

Many pointed out that the tribunal did not do its job of reconciling the people of BiH, and that it was an “anti-Serb court”. Also, many pointed out that Ratko Mladic “will be remembered as a positive figure”, and that the verdict is an injustice.

The President of the RS entity, Zeljka Cvijanovic, stated that the Hague Tribunal, in its second instance verdict to general Ratko Mladic, once again confirmed its role as an anti-Serbian court, which does not determine the responsibility for war crimes according to evidence, but according to the nationality of the accused.

“If it were the other way around, today's verdict would not be observed by some of the most infamous Hague indictees, such as Naser Oric, Ramush Haradinaj, Ante Gotovina, as well as many others from whose areas of responsibility Serbs have disappeared forever, from freedom,” Cvijanovic said. “As for General Mladic, he became the head of the army that defended the Republika Srpska, as well as the right of the Serb people to life and freedom, in the most difficult of times.”

The RS National Assembly Speaker, Nedeljko Cubrilovic, told Srna news agency that the Appeals Chamber of the Hague Tribunal passed the harsh verdict in which the evidence in Mladic’s favour was ignored.

“His health condition was especially ignored. All this speaks in favour of the fact that this, as well as previous verdicts, do not contribute to interethnic reconciliation, but make relations between Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks more difficult,” said Cubrilovic.

Stevandic: This injustice will only strengthen us

The leader of the United Srpska party Nenad Stevandic stated, on the occasion of the second-instance verdict against Ratko Mladic, that such unjust verdicts will only strengthen the RS, despite what its opponents expect.

“At this ugly moment, my first emotion is that we must turn all our dissatisfaction and anger caused by the discrimination against Serb victims and imposing the greatest guilt on Serb officials and officers into strength and perseverance in the fight for the RS, our only guarantee of survival,” Stevandic said.

Nesic: Instead of reconciliation, The Hague brought injustice and tensions

Democratic People’s Alliance (DNS) leader Nenad Nesic stated that Ratko Mladic was and will remain a positive historical figure for the Serb people, that the Serb people have nothing to be ashamed of and that the Hague Tribunal brought injustice and tensions instead of reconciliation and justice.

Nesic pointed out that he was very sad and disappointed in the International Court of Justice in The Hague because he believes that general Ratko Mladic did not deserve this and that the procedure had to be repeated, at least.