MINISTER: CROATIA'S DUTY IS TO NAB GOTOVINA IF HE IS IN COUNTRY

ZAGREB, March 3 (Hina) - Foreign Minister Tonino Picula has said that the apprehension of Gen. Ante Gotovina remains to be Croatia's duty if this indictee, wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal, is on Croatia's territory, but if he is not here Picula then expects of others to give their contribution to the resolution of this issue. #L# Jean-Jacques Joris, a diplomatic advisor of Carla del Ponte, the chief prosecutor of the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia), has recently accused Zagreb of a lack of political will to nab Gotovina. Joris has claimed that Gotovina often travels to Croatia and that Croatian authorities could have arrested him several times, if they wanted to do so. "It is easy to express that suspicion, but it is difficult to corroborate it. Every piece of evidence which might corroborate this, will be considered by Zagreb with the greatest seriousness," Minister Picula said in an interview with Monday's issue of the "Vjesnik" daily. Asked whether the European Union reproached Croatia for its signature to the Vilnius Group's statement, the minister responded that it did not slow down Croatia's bids to come closer to the EU, neither had it burdened the Zagreb-Brussels relations. "Croatia has for long time lagged behind in the processes of the integration in the EU and NATO ... We need both the United States and the EU to reach our objectives," Picula said. He announced the continuation of lobbying for Croatia's interest in European capitals. Thus, Premier Ivica Racan should meet British Premier Tony Blair, and the EU commissioner of the union's enlargement, Chris Patten, is expected to arrive in Zagreb soon. Besides, Picula and his counterparts from Macedonia and Albania should mull over their joint approach to NATO and the so-called Adriatic Chapter they are to sign together with the United States. (hina) ms