Serbian official: Croatia refuses to help identify victims of Operation Storm

Speaking at a conference titled “Return Our Loved Ones, We Have Waited Too Long” at the Palace of Serbia, Odalovic accused Croatian officials of leading a campaign claiming the Serbian side is failing to cooperate on resolving war crimes, when the reality is actually the reverse.

“The bodies, the graves, and the archives are in Croatia. When we reach out to them, they remain silent or give us inappropriate answers,” the Commission chair said.

He emphasized that the Serbians must never forget the more than 220,000 people expelled from Croatia three decades ago, adding that the Serbia stands with the families of the missing and will strive to assist them.

“At the time it was happening, international missions were present in the areas from which Serbs were being expelled, and they observed it. Wherever they were stationed, Serbs are no longer there,” Odalovic said.

According to him, families have a right to know what happened to their loved ones, but he noted it is discouraging that even when victims are identified, no one is held accountable for crimes against Serbs.

“It seems as though Serbs were legitimate targets. Once again, I call on my colleagues in the region to cooperate,” Odalovic said.

Tuesday marks the 31st anniversary of the start of the Croatian military-police Operation Storm, which led to the exodus of more than 200,000 Serbs from Croatia.

Operation Storm began in the early morning hours of August 4, 1995, with an offensive by the Croatian army and police, alongside units of the Croatian Defense Council. The operation targeted the regions of Banija, Kordun, Lika, and northern Dalmatia, which at the time comprised the internationally unrecognized Republika Srpska Krajina.