ZAGREB, May 20 (Hina) - Information that Croatia decided not to give the green light to the U.S. request on the non-extradition of Americans to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is not true, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan
said in a statement to the press on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, May 20 (Hina) - Information that Croatia decided not to give
the green light to the U.S. request on the non-extradition of
Americans to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is not true,
Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in a statement to the press
on Tuesday. #L#
"The information that Croatia decided to turn down the U.S. request
on signing an agreement on the non-extradition of American soldiers
to the ICC is extremely untrue and unfair. Such a decision was not
made and it was impossible to formulate such a decision at the
consultations the head of state and the prime minister held with
associates on Monday," Racan said in the statement.
Bearing in mind friendly Croatia-U.S. relations, as well as the
joint participation in the anti-terrorist coalition, the state
leadership last night discussed measures it should take so that
U.S. partners would show understanding for Croatia's specific
situation, Racan said.
"We are confident that the U.S. will understand that Croatia is on
the path of joining the EU whose response it expects early next
year. The EU will most definitely assess whether Croatia is acting
in accordance with the EU's position on the permanent International
Criminal Court. Besides, Croatia has its own firm obligations
towards the Hague-based war crimes tribunal," the PM said in a
statement.
Racan also reminds that the U.S. president can exempt a certain
country from sanctions which are likely to be imposed because of a
decision not to sign the agreement. The PM is confident that Croatia
has strong arguments to be granted such an exemption.
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