The case of General Gotovina is a matter of the rule of law and anyone who is indicted should face the charges, but also be presumed innocent, PM Sanader told the parliament.
He reiterated that Croatia was interested in establishing the full truth, which was the fact that the Homeland War was a liberating, legitimate and just war, that Croatia was a victim of aggression and had the right to defend itself and liberate its territories.
"Those are the truths that nobody will be able to challenge," the PM said.
He added that the government would protect the truth about the Homeland War through friends of the court and other legal instruments.
"This is a historical truth, anything else is a matter of procedure," Sanader said, adding that the government, as in the case of other Hague tribunal indictees, would also provide Gotovina with full legal assistance.
Sanader repeated that he was informed of Gotovina's arrest this morning by Hague tribunal chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte and that the arrest confirmed the credibility of claims by the Croatian government and institutions that Gotovina was not in Croatia.
"We witnessed criticisms by the international community that Croatian authorities were lying and not cooperating fully with The Hague," the PM said, thanking all who believed and supported Croatia.
The PM arrived in the parliament after the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) urged him through the media to do so.
After Sanader's address the HSP asked that the parliament wrap up today's sitting, with HSP leader Anto Djapic saying that members of his party were under stress and unable to discuss important items on the agenda due to Gotovina's arrest.
The parliament, however, continued the session, with HSP members leaving the parliament hall.