DEL PONTE'S INFLEXIBILITY RESPONSIBLE FOR GOVOTINA SITUATION - MESIC

ZAGREB, Nov 14 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic feels that the situation with fugitive General Ante Gotovina could have been solved if the chief prosecutor with the Hague war crimes tribunal, Carla Del Ponte, and her office had been flexible. #L# In interviews with Friday's Novi List and Glas Slavonije dailies, Mesic gave an affirmative answer to the question whether he thought the inflexibility of Del Ponte and the Prosecutor's Office was responsible for Gotovina's present situation. "As regards Gotovina, my position is clear. The Constitution binds me to see that state mechanisms function. If everyone had the chance to talk with the Hague tribunal's investigators except Ante Gotovina, than I'm for giving him the same opportunity," Mesic said. He recalled that in an interview with Nacional weekly earlier this year the runaway general said "something he'd never said before," i.e. that he recognised the Hague tribunal and Croatian state bodies, and that the previous government prevented him from speaking to the tribunal's investigators. "He said that if he were enabled to be interviewed and if the investigators were dissatisfied, he was willing to go to The Hague," said Mesic. "Even if he decides to go to The Hague, he has to arrange it with someone. He has to come someplace and say, 'I haven't been caught or extradited by any police, I wish to talk to you'," the president said. Mesic added he had advocated that Gotovina be given that chance. "I only said, 'Talk to him, regardless of whether he is accused, suspected or a witness'." Reporters said the rules were clear in such situations and that if Gotovina was indicted he must be arrested. "But he hasn't been arrested," said Mesic. Gotovina suggested reporting to representatives of the Hague tribunal, Mesic said, adding that there should be have been some flexibility and the problem would have been settled. (hina) ha