LAWYER EXPLAINS INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL

ZAGREB, Sept 27 (Hina) - The request for an interlocutory appeal the Croatian government forwarded to the ICTY on Friday is a document seeking permission to appeal against an arrest and surrender warrant for Gen. Janko Bobetko, the government's representative in the legal dispute with the ICTY in the "Bobetko case", told Hina. #L# "An appeal against an arrest and surrender warrant is not expressly allowed, so with the request the government seeks permission to lodge the interlocutory appeal," Goran Mikulicic said. The interlocutory appeal request is ruled on by an ad hoc three- member trial chamber, which is convened solely for this occasion, he explained. In submitting the request the government has to prove its interests and legal reasons, as well as to legally formulate them, which the government has done, said Mikulicic. The interlocutory appeal is based on Article 54 of the Rule Book on Procedure and Evidence of the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia), which speaks about court orders and orders for the submission of documents which are delivered to states. There is no time limit for the ad hoc trial chamber to rule on the request for the interlocutory appeal, but ICTY rules state that decisions should be made within a reasonable deadline. If the trial chamber approves the request, the Croatian government may file an appeal against the warrant for the arrest of Bobetko and his surrender to the ICTY. Another move on the government's part may be expected next week, he said, but declined to elaborate. This afternoon ICTY spokesman Jim Landale was unable to confirm that the tribunal had received Croatia's request for the interlocutory appeal. He did not think the confirmation could come before Monday. (hina) ha sb