WASHINGTON, June 6 (Hina) - Croatia and the United States are continuing with their intensive negotiations on Washington's request for the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with Zagreb on non-extradition of U.S. nationals to the
recently established International Criminal Court.
WASHINGTON, June 6 (Hina) - Croatia and the United States are
continuing with their intensive negotiations on Washington's
request for the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with Zagreb on
non-extradition of U.S. nationals to the recently established
International Criminal Court. #L#
On 12 June, an American expert group, consisting of officials of the
State Department, Pentagon and Justice Department, will arrive in
Zagreb to discuss the issue with its hosts, Croatia's Ambassador to
the United States, Ivan Grdesic told Hina on Thursday.
Washington is making efforts to sign bilateral agreements on non-
extradition of Americans to the ICC in fear that the court could
lead politically motivated trials against them. So far, 38
countries have concluded relevant treaties with the United States
which is threatening to deny further military aid to other
countries which may fail to conclude such an agreement until July
1.
As regards Croatian officials' requests that President George Bush
may decide to exempt Croatia from the obligation to sign the
bilateral treaty on the matter, Ambassador Grdesic said "it is
difficult to expect of the United States to grant Croatia's request
for its exemption from signing the bilateral agreement on non-
extradition of Americans to the ICC," as this (exemption) is likely
to be applied only on NATO member-states and countries which
Washington regards as important partners and allies.
The diplomat believes that American negotiators at lower levels
will show a tougher stance, but he added that it remained to be seen
"which form of the military assistance the United States is going to
really deny for Croatia in case it does not sign the agreement".
Grdesic believes that the discontinuation of military assistance
would be contrary to the American own interests and in
contradiction to endeavours which Washington has recently shown by
signing an American-Adriatic Charter under which Croatia, together
with Albania and Macedonia, should receive help in its bids to enter
NATO.
Earlier this week, the Croatian ambassador held talks with high-
ranking officials in the State Department and the Pentagon, Janet
Bogue and Mira Riccardel respectively, on problems which his
country was facing with the possible signing of the agreement.
"The signing of the agreement would mean for the Croatian
government a loss of credibility for further cooperation with the
Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal, and would strengthen political
forces in Croatia which oppose that cooperation," Grdesic said.
Besides, the discontinuation of further military aid would
negatively affect Croatia's preparedness to join the alliance and
to counter terrorism as well as the security in the region, he
added.
(hina) ms