UN court rules that Serbia and Croatia did not commit genocide during Balkan wars

The UN top court ruled that Serbia and Croatia did not commit genocide against each other’s people during the wars that sparked by the breakup of former Yugoslavia.

The ruling is expected to help put to rest long prevailing hostility between the Balkan neighbours.

What is Balkan War in 1990s?

  • The Balkan Wars in 1990s were ethnic conflicts fought from 1991 to 2001 on the territory of former Yugoslavia.
  • The wars resulted in the breakup of the country
  • Yugoslavia’s constituent republics declared independence
  • However, the issues of ethnic minorities in the new countries were left unresolved even though those republics were recognized internationally.
  • The Balkan war is generally considered to be a series of largely separate but related military conflicts occurring in and affecting most of the former Yugoslav republics

The Balkan War comprises following series of events

War in Slovenia 1991
Croatian War of Independence 1991–1995
Bosnian War 1992–1995
Kosovo War 1998–1999
Insurgency in the Preševo Valley 1999-2001
Insurgency in the Republic of Macedonia 2001