France demands Belgrade hand over the suspect in the murder of Jean-Michel Nicolier

Nicolier was a French military volunteer, who fought for Croatia in the Croatian War of Independence. He fought in the Battle of Vukovar and was wounded twice. Nicolier was in Vukovar Hospital when Vukovar fell to Serb and Yugoslav People’s Army forces, from where he was taken to the Ovčara farm. According to eye witnesses he was brutally beaten and killed by a shot to the head by Spasoje Petković.

Three months after the remains of Vukovar defender Jean-Michel Nicolier were identified and buried, French institutions and his family have presented Serbia with two demands - the extradition of the suspect in his murder, Spasoje Petković, and the payment of restitution.

Commented on the request on Wednesday Croatia’s Chief State Prosecutor Ivan Turudić said that while he wishes the French authorities success in dealing with Serbia, he is doubtful that Belgrade will suddenly adopt a cooperative mood: "We have done everything that we could, providing our French colleagues with the entire documentation at Jean-Michel's funeral. We enjoy strong cooperation, and I would truly like for them to have more success than we did. But, I am skeptical, I doubt that Serbia will change its behavior in any way. A Serbian court has given Petković the status of a cooperating or penitent witness. They blocked all of our motions, claiming that the case had been tried, but tried in the manner that the process against Petković was suspended."

Meanwhile, the remains of four veterans and five civilians killed in the Homeland War were presented to their respective families on Wednesday after having been identified. Ranging from 27 to 80 years of age, their remains were exhumed from mass and shallow graves in the Sisak-Moslavina, Vukovar-Srijem and Osijek-Baranja counties. Zlatko Boni's father, a Croatian defender, was among those identified: "Let me provide some context to people saying that their families have finally found peace. His mother and sister have both already passed away. No one has ever been tried for this crime and it is likely that no one ever will. We have come to terms with that. What would truly give me peace, and I believe for my brother and others in this situation, is that we are not subjected to these frequent attacks on our history and culture."

Martina Senčić Kasvel's father was also among those identified: "My father is finally coming home. His name is Ivan Senčić. He left for Vukovar as a volunteer. They were supposed stay one week, and today, 35 years later, he is coming home."

"Serbia's position is obvious through their lack of cooperation, and our position is clear regarding our demands and our conditions regarding the necessity of Serbia to come to terms with its Greater Serbian aggression against Croatia," added Deputy Prime Minister and Veterans Affairs Minister Tomo Medved.

Croatia is still searching for more than 1 700 people listed as missing from the Serbian and Yugoslav People’s Army aggression of the 1990's.

Source: HRT