ZAGREB, Feb 2(Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader told Croatian Radio on Monday that ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte gave an objective and fair assessment of Croatia's cooperation with the tribunal, which according to
Sanader had no alternative.
ZAGREB, Feb 2(Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader told Croatian
Radio on Monday that ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte gave an
objective and fair assessment of Croatia's cooperation with the
tribunal, which according to Sanader had no alternative.#L#
Del Ponte gave this assessment during an interview for Croatian
Television last week.
Sanader reiterated Croatia's cooperation with the Hague tribunal was
good and added that several concrete steps had been made. He said it
was extremely important that the cooperation had been shifted form the
political to the legal level. He also positively assessed the fact
that after consultations with the tribunal the government handed over
documents necessary for general Ante Gotovina's defence to his
attorneys.
Asked about what position the government will take in the Gotovina
case, Sanader said the issue would be solved in cooperation with the
Hague tribunal and that the government was still collecting relevant
information.
He expressed conviction that Del Ponte would positively assess
Croatia's cooperation with the tribunal in her report to the U.N.
Security Council in March and that she would take into consideration
the overall cooperation and not just the Gotovina case.
Sanader hailed Del Ponte's announcement that there was a possibility
that Gotovina be temporarily released after he appeared before the
tribunal. The PM stressed he did not bring Gotovina's innocence into
question. Asked if he had any advice for Gotovina, Sanader said
Gotovina should do what he thought was best for him.
He also said he had no information about new indictments and that he
did not wish to speculate. The PM, however, said that after they
arrive the government would act in accordance with the Constitutional
Law on Cooperation with the ICTY.
Speaking about the government's future moves, Sanader said there would
be more short-term measures aimed at improving the standard of living
of Croatian citizens. The government will continue to construct
highways, Sanader said.
(Hina) it sb