The Sarajevo Archbishop, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, has condemned all crimes committed in the name of religion and in the name of ethnic kin in the last war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
During requiem mass for Croat villagers killed by (Bosniak) troops of the Army of Bosnia-Herzegovina on 16 April 1993 in Trusina, near the southern town of Konjic, the dignitary said on Friday that "the worst crimes were committed in the name of religion".
"We must forgive, but forgiving does not strip perpetrators of responsibility for what was perpetrated," Cardinal Puljic said during the service in Trusina.
He criticised all the three peoples in Bosnia-Herzegovina for trying to hush up crimes their members had committed and for distorting figures about war victims.
Cardinal Puljic urged bringing perpetrators to justice for the sake of the future reconciliation.
Apart from Croat associations and political parties, also two Bosniak associations of war veterans from the town of Konjic for the first time took part in wreath-laying ceremonies at the monument in Trusina.
Four former Bosnian Army members have been charged by the Bosnian state prosecution with war crimes in Trusina.
Bosnian Army troops killed 22 Croats in an attack on the village on 16 April 1993. Among the victims were 19 civilians and three Croat Defence Council (HVO) soldiers who had previously surrendered. Several civilians were wounded, including two children.
