For the first time in eight years and three months, Tihomir Blaškić was taken by car, without being blindfolded and handcuffed, from the Scheveningen prison to the Amsterdam airport. Since being escorted to the prison in Den Haag on 1 April 1996, this was his first opportunity to view the city in which he has spent one fifth of his life. Blaškić, his wife and their three children – 16 year old Dejan, 8 year old Ivan and 3 year old Jelena – accompanied by attorney Anto Nobilo, were the last to board the Croatia Airlines airplane on the flight to Zagreb. He did not carry many personal things with him, only two suitcases, one of which fell apart under the weight of all his books. The remaining eight packages arrived in Zagreb several weeks ago. As he said, he sensed that this date in court could be his last, and that freedom was waiting for him on the other side. For the entire flight, he patiently gave interviews and statements, holding for a while his daughter Jelena and his younger son Ivan.

NACIONAL: Who did you say goodbye to and who of your fellow inmates saw you off?
There were twelve, among them Dušan Fuštar, Zoran Žigić, Slobodan Praljak, Berislav Pušić, Milan Babić, Milan Milutinović, Pavle Strugar, Miroslav Deronjić, Amir Kubura and Mladen Naletilić Tuta, who is my neighbour, and last night we communicated through the wall. They all prepared my favourite breakfast – salad and fruit and fried liver, which I don’t really like, but I have to eat because of my medical condition. Jadranko Prlić is on the second floor, so I didn’t see him this morning, but we said our goodbyes yesterday.

NACIONAL: How did they react when they heard the verdict? Were they able to be sincerely happy for you?
Yes. It was a truly touching farewell, as the verdict itself returned hope and confidence to all those who were commanders and who consider themselves to be innocent, that they will have a fair trial.

NACIONAL: Yes, as well as documents and evidence, which was not available to you at the time you went to the Hague.
Of course, the documents played a key role, as did the witnesses, and a good defence team. I would like to also thank all the media and reporters who helped me with their writing to confirm the truth. Believe me, this was all important in obtaining this outcome and my release from prison.

NACIONAL: While listening to the verdict, you were very calm, making notes. What were you thinking about, were you certain that you would soon be freed?
For some time now, I have been waking at 5 a.m. On the day of the trial, I had already by 5:05 a.m. written a dedication in a book that I sent to Mario Čerkez. The book is called “God behind bars”, and in the dedication I wrote, “Dear Mario, I am sending you this book, which you do not have to return until you come home to Vitez, I will be waiting for you there.” When the prison supervisor saw the dedication, he asked me to translate it for him, which I did. He said, “Are you crazy? You’re just on your way to the court now.” I responded that I was certain I would soon be released, and upon the completion of the appeal process, I thanked my attorneys and told them they had done a good job and that I was a very happy man. After that, I did not fear the verdict by the Hague Tribunal, because they did the best they could. That is why I was certain that the verdict would be positive.

NACIONAL: What was the key moment in which you realized that you would be released?
That was the moment when Judge Pockar said that he first wanted to define the legal criteria, and then judge on the facts. When I heard “judge on the facts”, I knew that justice would be on my side as soon as the legal criteria and the facts were compared.

NACIONAL: You followed all the Croatian press. In Nacional the transcript of your final conversation with Generals Kresimir Ćosić, Miljenko Crnjec and Ljubo Ćesić Rojs was published some time ago. Was that transcript authentic?
It was authentic to the very last word. But I am a forgiving man. I am thankful to the Croatian government who provided financial support for my family all this time. Without that, I would not have been set free. I thank the Office of the President for the documents they provided in my defence, as well as the government of the BiH Federation, as they also delivered documents which greatly helped my case.

NACIONAL: Can you comment on the testimony by Milivoj Petković and Croatian President Stipe Mesić? How did they help or hinder you by testifying before the Tribunal?
I cannot comment on their testimonies for reasons you already know. What I can say, and I hope that all the witnesses of the defence, the prosecution and court read this, is that I am grateful to them from the bottom of my heart, as they all helped me to be set free today, and that I could be with my family.

NACIONAL: Have you considered filing a lawsuit against those people who held the documents from you which were so necessary for your defence?
No, I have not given that any thought. Why? They did that only because at that moment, they believed someone or something. I always believed that justice and the truth would come out in the end and so it was not difficult for me to pay this price. I am especially happy when I see how happy my wife is today, and how she was so selflessly by my side all these years, and the first thing she said to me when I was sentenced to 45 years was, “Tiho, I’m with you!”

NACIONAL: Are you satisfied with Mesić’s decision on your retirement?
Yes, I’m thrilled. That was the result of certain circumstances, and at this time, the best possible solution. I am certain that my wife, children and I will not go hungry. Otherwise, we are finally together again, and what more could we need?

NACIONAL: Do you fear revenge by those whose defence before the Tribunal has become more difficult because of these documents or revealed them to be the committers of crimes for which you were accused?
While I was in the war, I thought the same as today. Everyone in war is obligated to abide by the international humanitarian laws, as well as the legal regulations. I sent my commanders commands and warnings back in May 1993 that they had to abide by the provisions of the Hague Tribunal, to be aware that this court had been established and to think first and be aware of their actions. They knew that, and I in no way wanted to take the position of the Hague prosecutor, but I do hope that the Hague prosecution will successfully complete this mission, to find those responsible and punish them for all that they did and should not have done. I do not fear anyone’s revenge, as God sees everything and knows everything and everyone gets what they deserve in the end.

NACIONAL: What would you say to General Ante Gotovina?
Everyone is obligated to think for himself and make their decisions according to their own beliefs which will lead them to their goal. I am not competent to give anyone advice. From my verdict, it is clear that the Hague Tribunal has shown its independence and that it is just. Therefore, I believe it is upon the individual to make his decisions on what he will do in his life.

NACIONAL: Do you think that your trial will influence the course of other trials before the Tribunal?
From now on, it will be easier for all the indicted men, and they told me that themselves this morning at our farewell. I have no doubts that this is true.

NACIONAL: Do you remember what went through your mind at the moment that you were sentenced to 45 years in prison four years ago?
I knew that the verdict would be catastrophic, but I remained calm until I heard my wife scream from the next room. At that moment, my left hand began to shake uncontrollable, and I could not stop it, despite all my efforts. I was aware that this was a horrible verdict, which was hardest on Ratka. I was afraid for Ratka, how she would deal with it. My attorneys immediately offered their resignations, but I told them that I would not accept, as they had done everything they could. But I never lost hope that this day would come.

NACIONAL: You are now writing an autobiography?
I haven’t yet decided. There are notes, journals, but for now my most important task is to be a good husband to my wife and a good father to our children.

NACIONAL: I hear that you told you wife to buy you swimming trunks several days ago. Are you planning a trip to the sea?
To tell you the truth, in 17 years of marriage, we have really never been on the sea together. The longest we ever spent on the coast was three days. It’s time to make up for that.

NACIONAL: What will you do in your retirement?
The only thing I want to do is spend as much time as possible with my wife, children and friends, and to at least return a tiny bit of all they did for me.

NACIONAL: You learned the art of cooking in prison?
True, I learned a lot of culinary skills, I even know how to make cheese pastries.

NACIONAL: How do you feel physically? Are you still suffering from health problems?
I am still not well, but I think that with the help of doctors, we will fix that too.