ADVISER: TUDJMAN COULDN'T GIVE ORDERS TO BOSNIAN CROATS

THE HAGUE, June 10 (Hina) - Continuing his testimony before the Hague war crimes tribunal on Monday, former Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's adviser Ivic Pasalic said the late head of state could not influence Bosnian Croats' decisions. #L# "Croats in the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia and the Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia made decisions autonomously, both concerning personnel and politics," Pasalic said in response to defence attorney Kresmir Krsnik's question if Tudjman had led the Bosnian Croats' policy. "The President stated his opinion, wishing to contribute to the peace efforts," Pasalic said, adding that Tudjman "was not able to give anyone orders." There had been situations "in which his opinion was accepted," Pasalic said. He stated that Tudjman's participation in international negotiations on behalf of Bosnia's Croats had been authorised by them and requested by the international community. Asked about Croatia's aspirations towards Bosnia-Herzegovina, Pasalic referred to a Croatian parliamentary declaration explicitly stating that Croatia did not wage a war or commit aggression against another state but fought a defense war. Pasalic reminded the declaration was adopted by consensus after the elections following Tudjman's death. Pasalic said the Croatian parliament, the only authorised to do so, had never passed a decision on sending Croatian troops to Bosnia. If Tudjman had made such a decision, it would have been illegal and "the government would certainly have reacted," he said. Speaking about Tudjman's meetings with Alija Izetbegovic, Pasalic said Tudjman respected Izetbegovic as the leader of Bosnia's Muslims but was disappointed that Izetbegovic changed decisions after agreements had been reached. "That bothered President Tudjman very much," he said. Asked about a drawing of the alleged division of Bosnia, known as the "Tudjman serviette", which was made public by British politician Paddy Ashdown, Pasalic said Tudjman "was sad, and even more than that, as he said it defied comprehension what people were willing to make up and lie about." "To that gentleman he tried to explain something which can be found in every specialised magazine... from NATO... namely the demarcation line between eastern and western Europe," Pasalic said, dismissing Ashdown's claim that the drawing represented the division of Bosnia. Pasalic's testimony about Tudjman's conversations with peace mediators was closed to the public. The testimony continues later. (hina) ha