ZAGREB, Sept 27 (Hina) - In continuation of the parliament's discussion on cooperation with the Hague-based international war crimes tribunal with the indictment against General Janko Bobetko in focus, MPs reiterated their request on
several occasions that the government reconsider its decision on the extradition of generals Ante Gotovina and Rahim Ademi to the tribunal.
ZAGREB, Sept 27 (Hina) - In continuation of the parliament's
discussion on cooperation with the Hague-based international war
crimes tribunal with the indictment against General Janko Bobetko
in focus, MPs reiterated their request on several occasions that
the government reconsider its decision on the extradition of
generals Ante Gotovina and Rahim Ademi to the tribunal. #L#
Croatia must not accept indictments that accuse the Croatian nation
of genocide and the expulsion of Serbs nor for legitimate Croatian
military operations to be referred to as ethnic cleansing, and
occupied Croatian state territory as the "Autonomous (Serb) Region
of Krajina", Zeljko Glavan of the Croatian Social Liberal Party
(HSLS) said.
Miroslav Rozic of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) said that the
government had realised that the indictment against Bobetko could
seriously threaten internal conflicts in Croatia, and therefore
undertook moves to take a time out before the public, The Hague and
world power centres. Rozic asked what would follow after the time
out and why in fact the government way trying to buy time. He
proposed that new strategies be taken with regard to The Hague.
Nenad Stazic of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) estimated that
the best move for Croatia would to be establish a climate in which
the Croatian judiciary could act independently, justly and
efficiently and punished those who committed crimes.
He believes that protests and other street manifestations would
just hamper Croatia's position as well as chances for defendants
and those who could be indicted in the future.
Mladen Godek of Libra claimed the indictment against Bobetko was
amateur and could therefore make the task of the defence easier to
squash the charges. He proposed that the UN Security Council be
asked to amend regulations governing the Hague tribunal so that it
could not pass sentences longer than those valid in the country from
where indictees come from.
MPs are not questioning the continuing cooperation with The Hague,
but believe that this should not be by mere silent obedience.
Petar Zitnik of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) shares this
opinion. He estimated that The Hague was not trying crimes, but
playing a political game. If it is indeed trying, then Croatia is
being tried for defending itself against the Greater Serbian
aggression, Zitnik said.
(hina) lml sb