ZAGREB, June 12 (Hina) - The defence team of Ante Gotovina said in a statement on Thursday an interview with the fugitive general as a suspect was out of the question until the Hague war crimes tribunal's indictment, and the
international and Croatian warrants for his arrest were withdrawn.
ZAGREB, June 12 (Hina) - The defence team of Ante Gotovina said in a
statement on Thursday an interview with the fugitive general as a
suspect was out of the question until the Hague war crimes
tribunal's indictment, and the international and Croatian warrants
for his arrest were withdrawn. #L#
Gotovina's four attorneys said they were voicing their client's
stance.
One of them, Marijan Pedisic, told Hina they released today's
statement to clarify doubts as to when and how Gotovina was willing
to talk to investigators from The Hague.
Gotovina is presently an indictee and if he were to appear, Croatian
authorities would have to arrest him at once based on the arrest
order of the Hague tribunal, as well as warrants issued by Interpol
and Croatia's interior ministry.
"The defence believes all conditions exist to re-examine the
indictment and withdraw the arrest order and warrants, especially
now that President Mesic is talking about information shedding new
light on the whole case. If that happens, there would be no need to
arrest Gotovina and he would appear before the Hague's
investigators and present his defence as a free man," said
Pedisic.
Today's statement by the defence team is on the line of Croatian
President Stjepan Mesic's announcement yesterday that he will
propose to the Hague court to re-examine the Gotovina indictment
and is willing to guarantee that Gotovina will answer any summons
from The Hague if given the chance to give a statement, as a suspect,
in Zagreb, said Pedisic.
"We support Mesic's initiative, for which we are grateful and hope
will contribute to finally solving this case," Pedisic told Hina.
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