ZAGREB, Feb 23 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Saturday said he was ready to testify at the trial against former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic before The Hague Tribunal. He told reporters he had not yet received a
subpoena, but he gave a statement to The Hague Prosecutors. Asked to comment on Milosevic's statement before The Hague Tribunal that Mesic was the main perpetrator in the breaking up of Yugoslavia, the Croatian President said that Milosevic was not interested in (Yugoslav) confederation or federation, but only a Greater Serbia. "But, he has a right to defend himself", Mesic said. "I only said Yugoslavia no longer existed. I did not break up Yugoslavia, or led the (former) Yugoslav Army (JNA) to support the Serbs, it was not me but Milosevic opening camps in Bosnia, camps for Croats in Serbia", Mesic recalled. He added Milosevic never responded to his suggestion about proclaiming
ZAGREB, Feb 23 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on
Saturday said he was ready to testify at the trial against former
Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic before The Hague Tribunal.
He told reporters he had not yet received a subpoena, but he gave a
statement to The Hague Prosecutors.
Asked to comment on Milosevic's statement before The Hague Tribunal
that Mesic was the main perpetrator in the breaking up of
Yugoslavia, the Croatian President said that Milosevic was not
interested in (Yugoslav) confederation or federation, but only a
Greater Serbia. "But, he has a right to defend himself", Mesic
said.
"I only said Yugoslavia no longer existed. I did not break up
Yugoslavia, or led the (former) Yugoslav Army (JNA) to support the
Serbs, it was not me but Milosevic opening camps in Bosnia, camps
for Croats in Serbia", Mesic recalled.
He added Milosevic never responded to his suggestion about
proclaiming independence of all republics and establishing a
confederation for a period of three years after which it would be
seen whether it could survive or should break up in peace. "He has
not responded to the present day and I will ask him this as a
witness", said Mesic and added he has not yet received a subpoena
from the Hague Tribunal.
At a press conference Mesic spoke about results of his Asian tour
and answered to some other topical issues.
Asked to comment on negotiations within the ruling coalition, Mesic
said "everything will end well since nobody wanted (early)
elections".
Speaking about the situation in Zagreb, Mesic said there were no
reasons for elections and a dispute and that it was known that the
post of mayor belonged to the Social Democrats. He added it would
make no sense if Milan Bandic, resigned mayor, ran in elections
again. In case of "provoked elections, this is about other
political games" at which he, as he said, as a non-party person did
not want to involve.
Mesic said the problems in the region would be solved through
European mechanisms, and added territory will no longer be a motive
for the war, and that it would be one the same under conditions of
open borders on which side of the border will members of individual
nations live. He stressed Croatia must deliver "balanced"
decisions regarding neighbours, in talks and cooperation with
them.
Speaking about Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mesic said "there is no fear of
fundamentalism", that the Bosniaks went further in democratisation
and that the influence of parties without religious or national
signs grew. He warned there were individual and group extremists,
but these problems are being solved efficiently, which has been
confirmed by the extradition of a group of Algerians to the US.
"The Dayton Agreement stopped the war. A new step is needed - to have
three peoples in Bosnia being constituent. This is in interest of
Europe, Croatia, all countries in the region and Bosnia", Mesic
said.
(hina) np sb