GOVT. TOOK ALL MEASURES TO INFORM BOBETKO OF ICTY REQUEST

ZAGREB, Sept 19 (Hina) - The president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) bench, Mato Arlovic, said on Thursday that the government took all measures to inform General Janko Bobetko of the U.N war crimes tribunal's request to interview him in his capacity as indictee and to offer him assistance in line with the constitutional law on cooperation between Croatia and the Hague- based tribunal. #L# Arlovic said that according to his knowledge, Bobetko agreed to talk to ICTY investigators, and that the government appointed one and Bobetko chose two attorneys. The ICTY request can be a step towards issuing an indictment or, based on evidence presented by Bobetko, it can be withdrawn, Arlovic said. He also commented on a request by the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) for a moratorium on the extradition of Croatian generals until the Constitutional Court establishes if the law on cooperation with the tribunal was constitutional. Arlovic said the request was an attempt to help Bobetko and protect the values of the Homeland War. This, however, cannot be decided on by the parliament, but the Constitutional Court, he said and added that the parliament might solve this by amending the law on cooperation with the ICTY. Arlovic said that the issue should be treated more soberly and that everything must end within the framework of the judiciary and not by the will of politicians. "Everything is in the hands of the Constitutional Court and General Bobetko to present evidence which would defend his position," Arlovic said. (hina) it