"Petrac is willing to be interviewed both by the tribunal's and Croatian investigators, but only in the presence of his Greek and Croatian lawyers and only when the Greek authorities ensure all technical conditions, such as an official interpreter, which has not yet been ensured," lawyer Marijan Pedisic told Hina on Thursday.
Pedisic confirmed reports that investigators of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Wednesday visited Petrac in the extradition prison in Ioanna, Greece, and that Petrac told them that he was willing to talk with them only when his lawyers were present, to which he is entitled, the lawyer explained.
Asked when one of Petrac's lawyers from Zagreb would fly to Greece, Pedisic answered that this would be done as soon as the competent Greek court set a date for an official hearing. It is likely that his other lawyer from Zagreb, Ljubo Pavasovic Viskovic, will depart for Greece.
"We have not received any official information yet," Pedisic said.
Petrac's lawyers have said they do not know what the ICTY investigators might interview Petrac about, but assume it might be their client's alleged involvement in financing the escape of fugitive general Ante Gotovina, who is wanted by the Hague tribunal.
The spokesman for the Croatian Interior Ministry, Zlatko Mehun, told Hina today that Croatian investigators were also expected to interview Petrac in the coming days, confirming that the Greek authorities granted Croatia's request for questioning Petrac.
According to Mehun, an investigating team has been set up to interview Petrac either later this week or early next week.
The ministry spokesman declined to reveal the possible topics of the questioning.
On 31 August, Petrac was arrested by Greek police and members of the Coast Guard in Igoumenitsa aboard a ferry, which was bound for the Italian port of Ancona.
Petrac, for whom Interpol issued an arrest warrant, was on the run after the abduction of the underage son of General Vladimir Zagorec in February last year. A year later, the Zagreb County Court ruled that he masterminded the abduction and sentenced him to six years in prison.
Petrac is believed to be one of the key financiers of a network that helps Gotovina.
A few days after his apprehension, Petrac was sentenced by a Greek court to five months in prison for holding a fake passport and illegally entering Greece.