GOVT. PROPOSES BILLS ON RESPONSIBILITY OF STATE FOR DAMAGE

ZAGREB, Jan 16 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday formulated three bills defining the responsibility of the state for damage caused by members of military and police forces during the Homeland War, damage caused due to terrorist acts and public protests and damage incurred during the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (ICTY). #L# The bills are based on the principles of solidarity, fairness and equal participation in sharing the public burden, Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic said. Under the bill on accountability for damage caused by military and police forces during the Homeland War (from August 17, 1990 to June 30, 1996), the state is responsible for damage which does not have the character of war damage. War damage is damage inflicted during military activities and in areas where they took place (for example, shelling). When it comes to the aggression against Croatia, it is sometimes difficult to make a difference between war damage and a terrorist act, the minister said. International law does not bind any state to pay compensation to anyone for war damage, the minister said, adding that Croatia had been doing this and would continue to do so in the process of reconstruction, treating all citizens equally. Under the bill on responsibility for damage caused by terrorist acts or public protests, the responsibility of the state is objective, i.e. the state is accountable regardless of who caused the damage. However, the minister said, this does not prevent the state to seek compensation from those who are actually responsible for it. In case damage was inflicted during the former Yugoslav regime, Croatia is accountable for cases which involve its citizens or legal persons based in Croatia and in case damage was inflicted in Croatia. (hina) rml sb