GOVERNMENT ISSUES STATEMENT AFTER CLOSED-DOOR SESSION

ZAGREB, Oct 10 (Hina) - A Vice-Premier and president of the Government's Council for Cooperation with the ICTY and International Criminal Courts, Goran Granic, on Thursday informed government members about the legal measures taken so far with regard to a warrant for the arrest and hand-over of and indictment against Gen. Janko Bobetko, the government's public relations office said. #L# The government has forwarded a request to the Constitutional Court to give its opinion about certain constitutional and legal aspects of Homeland War liberation operations and related powers and obligations of the Croatian Armed Forces, with regard to the indictment and warrants for the arrest and hand-over of Janko Bobetko, which the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) sent the government on September 23 this year. By forwarding the request, the government is not contesting the ICTY's authority to process war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia nor challenging its right to indict and rule about the responsibility of individuals for crimes committed in the former federation, in line with the ICTY Statute and rules of procedure, reads the statement. The government today considered and supported a bill on political parties submitted by the parliamentary Committee on the Constitution, Rule Book and Political System. Among other things, the government formed a working group to prepare an application for Croatia's membership in the European Union. One of the tasks of this body, headed by Foreign and European Integration Ministers Tonino Picula and Neven Mimica, will be to draw up proposals for obtaining foreign political support. (hina) rml sb