SANADER DIDN'T MENTION GOTOVINA'S ARREST IN AP INTERVIEW - HDZ

ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) president Ivo Sanader did not mention the arrest of General Ante Gotovina, who is wanted by the Hague war crimes tribunal, in the interview with Associated Press (AP) released on Wednesday, the HDZ said in a statement later that day. #L# The denial signed by spokesman Ratko Macek, which was delivered to Hina, read that Sanader told AP the HDZ "is willing to fully cooperate with the Hague tribunal, which includes contesting some parts of the indictment against General Gotovina". "Sanader did not mention the arrest of General Gotovina with even one word, saying only that his case would be resolved as part of the cooperation," read the HDZ statement. It went on to say that Sanader said "the HDZ and the entire opposition don't know what is going behind the scenes, and that evidently there are contacts between representatives of General Gotovina and (Croatian) President (Stjepan) Mesic and the international criminal tribunal's prosecutor's office. The HDZ president announced establishing contact with said institutions so that the solving of case could start". AP said yesterday that Sanader "indicated a readiness to arrest and extradite" Gotovina to the Hague tribunal and further quoted him as saying that "There is no alternative to full cooperation". (hina) ha