ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic stated on Thursday Croatia was seeking a solution to the US request not to extradite US citizens to the International Criminal Court that would be in line with recommendations
by the European Union.
ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic stated on
Thursday Croatia was seeking a solution to the US request not to
extradite US citizens to the International Criminal Court that
would be in line with recommendations by the European Union. #L#
Asked to comment on a letter the EU forwarded to Croatia regarding
the US request, Mesic said he believed a solution could be found if
joint efforts were invested.
Croatian authorities on Wednesday received a letter from the EU in
which Brussels responded to attempts by the US to make Croatia sign
a bilateral agreement on the non-extradition of US citizens to the
International Criminal Court, outlining the framework for signing
such agreements, that was agreed at the Union level last
September.
"Croatia's stance is known both to the domestic and the
international public and we will stick to our principles. Seeing
that we are endeavouring to join the EU, we wish to be fully
compatible with it," Mesic stated, reiterating that "a negotiation
process is underway" and that he did not believe that the threat
mentioned currently would be carried out.
The United States threatened to withdraw its military assistance to
Croatia should it not sign the agreement by the end of June.
The deadline is defined by a law on the protection of US military
forces. The USA has so far signed such agreements with 35
countries.
(hina) sp rml sb