CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY REACTS TO DEL PONTE'S STATEMENT

ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday voiced dissatisfaction with the way ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte connected Croatia's joining the European Union with the extradition of retired Croatian Army General Ante Gotovina who, despite the Croatian government's efforts, was still at large. #L# The ministry issued a statement in reaction to a statement Del Ponte made before the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Tuesday according to which Gotovina's extradition must be a condition for Croatia's entry into the EU, otherwise the fugitive general would never be available to the tribunal. "The Croatian Foreign Ministry voices dissatisfaction with the way the prosecutor connected Croatia's joining the EU and the act of General Ante Gotovina's extradition," the statement said. "Despite all measures that have been taken so far, General Gotovina is not available to the Croatian authorities," the statement said. The ministry went on to say that it accepted that Croatia's full cooperation with the Hague tribunal was one of the important conditions for the start of negotiations about EU membership, adding "however, that in that cooperation one must make a difference between what is and what isn't possible". (hina) it