VUKOVAR, Feb 26 (Hina) - President of the PanEuropean Union Duke Otto von Habsburg on Wednesday arrived on a three-day visit to Vukovar-Srijem County. In Vukovar he and his wife Duchess Regina were received by local
authorities.
VUKOVAR, Feb 26 (Hina) - President of the PanEuropean Union Duke
Otto von Habsburg on Wednesday arrived on a three-day visit to
Vukovar-Srijem County. In Vukovar he and his wife Duchess Regina
were received by local authorities. #L#
Accompanied by their hosts, the Habsburg couple visited St. Phillip
& Jacob's monastery and church, the town museum and the general
hospital. At a press conference, during their visit to the
Franciscan monastery in Vukovar, Duke Otto von Habsburg assessed
that Croatia's application for the European Union membership could
have been submitted earlier.
"The application has maybe been submitted too late but I'm
optimistic with regard to Croatia's accession to the EU, he said
calling on the Croatian government and Croatian citizens to do
everything so that their country could join EU by 2007.
Asked to comment the indictment issued a few days ago against former
military leadership from the Yugoslav Peoples' Army (JNA),
military Serb forces and civilian authorities in the so-called
Krajina, headed by General Veljko Kadijevic, for crimes committed
against civilians, the wounded and patients in Vukovar between
August 1991 until November 18, 1991, von Habsburg welcomed that
act.
On the other hand he assessed that it was unheard of for charges of
war crimes to be issued against those who defended themselves.
(hina) sp ms