AI CROATIA WORRIED ABOUT RUMSFELD'S VISIT, U.S. PRESSURE ON CROATIA

ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - Amnesty International Croatia (AIH) is concerned about media reports saying that Sunday's visit of US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld to Croatia is linked with the pressure the United States wants to exert on Croatia to make it send its troops to Iraq and sign an agreement on the non-extradition of US citizens to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the AIH said in a statement.#L# The process of establishment of the ICC, in which Croatia played an important role, and the readiness of a large part of the international community to put an end to the non-prosecution of war crimes regardless of perpetrators, is reason enough for President Stjepan Mesic, as well as all other Croatian politicians, to reject pressure no matter how difficult and unpleasant it may be, the AIH said. Croatia should not trade in human rights to be respected and to have an important role on the international political scene, the association said. Sending troops to Iraq cannot be justified with lucrative reconstruction contracts in the country ravaged by dictatorship, occupation and terrorism, the statement said. Therefore, any decision regarding this issue must not be made under foreign pressure, but in an open discussion including political and legal arguments and with respect for international law and the well-being of the Iraqi people, the statement said. (Hina) rml