ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - The Hague war crimes tribunal's chief prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, arrives for a brief visit to Croatia on Wednesday during which she is set to meet Prime Minister Ivica Racan, Deputy PM Goran Granic, and
other officials competent for cooperation with the court, sources at the government said on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - The Hague war crimes tribunal's chief
prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, arrives for a brief visit to Croatia on
Wednesday during which she is set to meet Prime Minister Ivica
Racan, Deputy PM Goran Granic, and other officials competent for
cooperation with the court, sources at the government said on
Tuesday. #L#
"It is expected that the meeting will address current cooperation
issues, as well as some misunderstandings or complaints regarding
cooperation which have recently been levelled against Croatia, and
that the talks will proceed in an absolutely constructive
atmosphere," Frane Krnic, head of the government's office for
cooperation with the Hague tribunal, told Hina.
He will participate in the talks with Del Ponte, scheduled for noon,
alongside Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic-Marinovic and chief
state prosecutor Mladen Bajic, said the government sources.
After the talks, Del Ponte and PM Racan are expected to address the
media. Before departing, the chief prosecutor will visit the Hague
tribunal's Zagreb office.
Del Ponte's visit is not related to her recent trip to the region but
is a separate visit paid at the Croatian government's invitation.
"That fact assures us that our relations are going in a very
constructive direction," said Krnic, adding yesterday's decision
by the European Union's Council of Ministers to start processing
Croatia's membership application "reflects the realisation that
cooperation between Croatia and the Hague tribunal is entering
calmer waters".
After Del Ponte's visit, said cooperation "will no longer obstruct
our drawing closer" to the EU, added Krnic.
He said Croatia had fully or to a great extent met the demands that
used to be the subject of complaints, but that occasional
"disagreements" were to be expected.
"The Bobetko case has virtually been shelved regardless of the fact
that Croatia is obliged to submit monthly reports on his health,
while Ivica Rajic is about to be extradited."
Asked about the fugitive General Ante Gotovina and the documents
the government had prepared on the steps it had taken, Krnic said
"it is our interest to assure the prosecutor that Croatia is doing
everything that is in line with the law and within its
possibilities."
"The report Croatia was obliged to give the Hague tribunal has been
prepared."
As regards defence ministry documents relating to Croatia's war
operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina which the Hague prosecution
has been demanding for some time, Krnic said part of those demands
had been answered in contact with the tribunal.
"It has transpired, however, that some documents are non-existent
so we can't hand them over."
Asked about the number of indictments Croatia might expect before
the Hague prosecution ends investigations by the end of 2004, Krnic
said, "When there are investigations we may count on indictments.
But we have no indications if there will be any or when".
Asked if the EU Council of Ministers' decision to ban people
harbouring Hague indictees from entering the Union might refer to
some Croatians, Krnic said his office had no official information
about it at present.
(hina) ha