ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic refuted in an interview with the "Nacional" weekly claims that his recent address to the nation regarding the current situation was an expression of his dissension with the
government.
ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic refuted in
an interview with the "Nacional" weekly claims that his recent
address to the nation regarding the current situation was an
expression of his dissension with the government. #L#
"I would not say that this is a break-up, but perhaps I have
sometimes had a different approach. The government is made up of
different parties and it was difficult keeping them together, not
only with regard to strategic issues but also with regard to
concrete measures which take time," Mesic said in the latest issue
of the weekly.
However, when the politicisation of the General Janko Bobetko case
came to a head, the premier had to decide: either to immediately
accept what the UN war crimes tribunal requested or take some time-
out. The opposition used the situation to cause political tensions
and it is certain that (the premier) found himself in a difficult
situation, Mesic said, adding that he believed he had to put an end
to the politicisation.
He said he had informed Premier Racan that he was going make the
address but he had not told him what he would say.
"My speech was perhaps different from others to some extent.
Perhaps I was not understood well by some circles in the incumbent
authorities and particularly circles that are trying to use Bobetko
to topple the incumbent authorities and isolate Croatia," the head
of state added.
He stated that "the cooperation with the Hague-based tribunal is a
national interest of Croatia, which should prove itself as a law-
based country and a country honouring its international
commitments".
Responding to a reporter's statement that (general) Petar Stipetic
and Rahim Ademi "came off better at The Hague", as he had lobbied for
them, while Janko Bobetko and Ante Gotovina as Croatian Democratic
Union (HDZ) generals got a worse deal, Mesic said he had personally
asked that Stipetic talk with the tribunal's investigators,
although there were people who opposed it.
"Such a chance should have been offered to generals Ademi, Gotovina
and Bobetko as well. Perhaps, many things would have been
clarified," Mesic added.
"I do not think that the government should give up from challenging
those parts of the (Bobetko) indictment which read that the action
was planned to have criminal consequences. But this should be done
through legal means and before the tribunal," the weekly cited
Mesic as saying.
Bobetko should not have attacked his war-time associates, but he
should have said that he would appear before the tribunal, face the
indictment and expound his arguments. He is an elderly person and is
seriously ill... I do not see anybody who would extradite him given
his poor health.
"I do not believe that there is a Croatian or tribunal medical team
that would declare him fit to fly to The Hague and appear before the
tribunal in a competent manner," Mesic said.
(hina) ms sb