POŽEGA - The director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center , Efraim Zuroff, was in Požega yesterday, where he met with Mayor Zdravko Ronko. Zuroff was accompanied by the young man from Požega, Alen Budaj.

Based on Budaj's research on Jewish victims on the territory of Požega during 1941 and 1942, the SWC submitted a request for a criminal investigation against Ašner, on June 30th last year. The county court in Požega recently reached a decision on the investigation of Milivoj Ašner (92), chief of police in Požega during the NDH, who is suspected of committing war crimes against civilians during 1941 and 1942. In the judicial investigation against Ašner, one witness in Požega has been interrogated so far.

Confirming that the investigation of Ašner was the main reason for his visit to Požega, Zuroff ' was particularly critical of the slowness of the Croatian judiciary system. “We are especially worried that already a year passed and Milivoj Ašner has neither been indicted nor has a request for his extradition been made. In the meantime, Ašner sits in his home in Klagenfurt and laughs at the Croatian judiciary system,” says Zuroff, who also thinks that the Mayor of Požega should speak up about the crimes committed in this town because a public denunciation is part of the atmosphere which would help bring Nazi criminals to court.

“We cannot at this moment judge an individual as an individual because we don't know anything about him, and this should be done by the judiciary. But, every crime committed should be condemned and denounced”, said Ronko.

Regarding his visit to Požega as a means of attracting public attention to the importance of increasing the efforts to prosecute WWII war criminals, Zuroff said – “I think that the facts speak for themselves. The final test is the results. No government ever admits that they didn't do things right. I would be happy if I could give Croatia a good grade next year and if Ašner will be indicted that will be the case,” says Zuroff, presenting the example of Hungary which solved a similar case in three months.

Zuroff also supports the reconstruction of the Jewish cemetery in Požega and placing memorial plaques at the three locations which used to be synagogues. Zuroff presented his disappointment with the bad condition of the Jewish cemetery which he hopes will be fixed and fenced in by the next time he visits Požega, which will be for the Ašner trial.

During the press conference that was held after the meeting with Mayor Ronko, a young man from Požega, Alen Budaj spoke about his years-long research on the history of the Jews in Požega, which resulted in his discovery of Milivoj Ašner.

During his visit to Požega, Efraim Zuroff visited the Pozega county court, where he spoke with the President of the Court Branimir Miljevic, and investigating judge Berislav Devcic.