"If (the chief prosecutor) has really said that, I can say that I do not agree with her assessment. I believe that Croatia is fully cooperating. We can provide evidence of that - the implementation of the Action Plan. The latest events - the arrest of persons sentenced in absence also proves that the Action Plan is being implemented well," said Sanader, who was on a visit to Poland where he attended events marking the 25th anniversary of the "Solidarity" trade union.
Commenting on Del Ponte's claim that the opening of entry talks with Croatia would slow down efforts to locate and arrest Gotovina, Sanader said he believed a completely different thing would happen.
"The start of accession talks would only make the government more determined in its policy of full cooperation with the Hague tribunal, including the latest case. I believe that Mrs. Del Ponte has no reason to fear the start of Croatia-EU entry talks. If membership talks with the EU are opened, Croatia will be aware that its commitments are unquestionable and this is one more reason to fully cooperate with the Hague tribunal, which we are already doing," Sanader said.
Speaking about Del Ponte's remark, which she made in her speech at a conference on human rights in Berne today, that a recent celebration of the 10th anniversary of Operation Storm was an example of selective memory, with merits being emphasised and crimes against Serbs only marginally mentioned, Sanader said that this was "a subjective opinion to which everyone is entitled".
"We know that it is a historical truth that Croatia was attacked and occupied and that it was a victim of an act of aggression, suffering huge human losses and material damage," Sanader said adding that Croatia, like any other sovereign country, had the right to liberate its territory.
"Dishonourable acts and crimes which occurred after Operation Storm should be prosecuted, but they have nothing to do with the legitimacy, justness and character of the war, which was a defence war."
"There is no selective memory," Sanader said adding that Del Ponte could not have concluded this on the basis of his statements or statements given by the presidents of the state and parliament on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Operation Storm.
Croatian Justice Minister Vesna Skare Ozbolt dismissed Del Ponte's statements saying that Croatia had proven that it was fully cooperating with the tribunal and that she believed that its full cooperation was beyond dispute.
She added that the government's action plan aimed at locating and arresting Gotovina was being implemented very successfully in cooperation with the office of the UN tribunal's chief prosecutor.