CROATIA REITERATES ITS READINESS FOR COOPERATION

ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday did not comment on a statement by EU High representative for foreign affairs and security issues, Javier Solana, and the chief prosecutor of the international war crimes tribunal, Carla del Ponte, who requested that Croatia extradite General Janko Bobetko. It only reiterated Croatia had already stated it intended to cooperate with the tribunal. #L# "We said Croatia intends to continue cooperating with the tribunal," a government source said. "All the measures which Croatia has undertaken are in accordance with the Constitutional law on cooperation with the international war crimes tribunal, the tribunal's Statute and the rule book on procedure and evidence," the source who wished to remain anonymous said. The same source confirmed that Croatia would on Friday forward to the tribunal a second report to try and oppose parts of the indictment against Bobetko. As regards the first report, an application which was sent to the tribunal to approve the submission of an interlocutory appeal to the arrest and extradition warrant, the government is still waiting for a reply. Croatia may or may not receive a response by the end of the month, the government source said, adding that the Chamber of Appeals would discuss the request in detail before it responds, since this poses a precedent. The first report does not refute the Bobetko indictment, but explains that he should not be apprehended and extradited because of his poor health. The second application, however, refutes parts of the indictment which refer to the Medak Pocket military operation as one aimed at ethnic cleansing. (hina) lml