BELGRADE: DEL PONTE EXPECTS APPLICATION OF LAW ON COOPERATION

BELGRADE, April 18 (Hina) - The chief prosecutor with the Hague war crimes tribunal, Carla del Ponte, told reporters after meeting Yugoslav Justice Minister Savo Markovic on Thursday she applauded the adoption of a law on cooperation with the UN tribunal but also expected the first results of its enforcement. #L# The adoption of an internal law makes it possible to discuss concrete details of cooperation with the tribunal, said del Ponte. She added she agreed with the law but stressed the Hague tribunal had precedence over national courts. The chief prosecutor said she was certain the Yugoslav judiciary would launch investigations into war crimes, and added the Hague tribunal would fully cooperate with national courts. Del Ponte voiced hope that most fugitives would surrender of their own accord after the Yugoslav government yesterday issued a list with the names of the accused and gave them a three-day deadline to turn themselves in. The del Ponte-Markovic talks also tackled war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic. She declined to speak publicly about it, saying something would be said after he was transferred to The Hague. Markovic said it was "encouraging" that del Ponte had promised that investigations of the "political and military leaderships of the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army), as well as Croats and Bosniaks responsible for war crimes against Serbs and all others on the territory of the ex-Yugoslavia" would continue. (hina) ha sb