HPO SEEKS MORATORIUM ON COOPERATION WITH THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL

ZAGREB, Sept 23 (Hina) - The Croatian Legal Committee (HPO) is seeking that the Croatian parliament and government proclaim a temporary moratorium on cooperation with the Hague international war crimes tribunal and not to accept indictments against Croatian citizens - generals Janko Bobetko, Ante Gotovina and Rahim Ademi, the president of the committee, Zvonimir Separovic, said on Monday. #L# We support the Croatian Government's decision to enter into a "legal battle" with the Hague tribunal regarding the indictment against General Bobetko, Bobetko's attorney and vice president of HPO, Bosiljko Misetic said. "I suppose the government will lodge an appeal at the Hague tribunal's Council against the indictment," Misetic said, adding that he expected the government to act resolutely as it had recently announced. Misetic believes that the Croatian parliament and government should stand up to the current political moment because if it makes any changes to the constitutional law on cooperation with The Hague it could lose some sympathies from the international community, but Croatian national interests need to be considered. According to Misetic, amendments to the constitutional law need to decrease the possibility of criminal proceedings based on superior responsibility because the current provisions did not clearly stipulate where this responsibility begins or where it ends. He announced that the team of attorneys defending General Bobetko would demand that the government present all documents that could be useful in preparing the general's defence, and would ask the same of the Hague tribunal if indeed court proceedings begin, as well as transcripts of conversations of senior politicians in the country with international representatives. Asked about the unconstitutionality of the indictment, Misetic said that he did not wish to prejudge matters and disturb any efforts being made by the government. Vice-President of HPO Zeljko Olujic estimated that there were sufficient arguments to prove the unconstitutionality of the indictments and that the current law allowed for the possibility not to immediately extradite, but for the government to inspect the indictment before hand. He also said that there were deficiencies in the indictments against generals Ante Gotovina and Rahim Ademi. (hina) sp sb lml