BOBETKO CASE: MESIC SATISFIED WITH GOVT'S "EQUILIBRATED MOVE"

LIEPAJA, April 5 (Hina) - The handing over of the U.N. war crimes tribunal's indictment against General Janko Bobetko has been completed thanks to a deft move by the Croatian government, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said in Liepaja on Saturday. #L# "The problem was solved thanks to the government's equilibrated move," Mesic told reporters commenting on the Bobetko case. Attempts by Bobetko's attorneys to prevent by all means the serving of the indictment on the general were not wise, Mesic said. "I believe they are detrimental to Croatia because they could have resulted in serious consequences," Mesic said, adding that Croatia would have been criticised again for non-cooperation with the U.N. tribunal if the indictment had not been handed. The Croatian government on Friday handed the ICTY indictment against Bobetko to Bobetko's attorney Bosiljko Misetic, who first received it, but then decided to return it to the sender, stating later for the media that he had not received the indictment. Premier Ivica Racan said yesterday he considered Bobetko's indictment handed to his attorneys. To join the European Union Croatia must resolve some outstanding issues, such as refugee return, property restitution and cooperation with the war crimes tribunal, Mesic said, adding that some circles in the country did not want to see Croatia draw closer to Euro-Atlantic associations. (hina) rml sb