ZAGREB, Oct 16 (Hina) - A spokeswoman for the European Commission's delegation to Croatia said on Wednesday there had been no new developments in Croatia's relations with the EU since last Wednesday, when the EU forwarded a protest
note demanding Croatia's full cooperation with the war crimes tribunal at The Hague.
ZAGREB, Oct 16 (Hina) - A spokeswoman for the European Commission's
delegation to Croatia said on Wednesday there had been no new
developments in Croatia's relations with the EU since last
Wednesday, when the EU forwarded a protest note demanding Croatia's
full cooperation with the war crimes tribunal at The Hague. #L#
Spokeswoman Mirela Rasic declined to comment on speculation in
Croatian media to the effect that the European Union (EU) had sent
an ultimatum stating that political sanctions would be imposed
unless Croatia demonstrated in concrete terms by Thursday that it
intended to cooperate with the UN tribunal in the case of indicted
General Janko Bobetko.
"We cannot comment on the speculation that has appeared in Croatian
print media. We can only once again refer to the protest note
forwarded by the EU," Rasic told Hina.
"There have been no new developments since last week," she added.
Last Friday, the EU sent the Croatian government a protest note
strongly supporting the work of the Hague tribunal and urging the
government to cooperate and continue honouring assumed
international commitments in the case of the Bobetko indictment as
well.
Rasic said she did not expect the issue of Croatia's cooperation
with the tribunal to be added on the agenda of a EU Council of
Ministers conference next week.
European Integration Minister Neven Mimica, commenting on
announcements of possible EU sanctions against Croatia, said there
was no reason to indulge in masochism and talk about measures which
might hit Croatia the most.
"That is a part of the story which is certainly not on today's
agenda," he told Zagreb's Radio 101.
"We are serious about the warnings coming from the EU which go
towards calling on Croatia to unconditionally cooperate with the
Hague tribunal. We state that we are cooperating with the Hague
tribunal... Our legal dispute with the prosecution's stances does
not overstep the boundaries of prescribed legal procedure which the
tribunal's statute enables," said Mimica.
The minister also commented on Great Britain's decision yesterday
to suspend the ratification of Croatia's Stabilisation and
Association Agreement with the EU because of Croatia's refusal to
extradite the retired Bobetko (83).
"In my opinion, the Foreign Office move is hasty, as it goes towards
prejudging court ruling," said Mimica.
"I think this kind of pressure should ensue only if Croatia failed
to act on court rulings regarding Croatia's appeal," he said.
The Hague tribunal indicted Bobetko last week, accusing the former
military chief-of-staff of crimes committed during 1993's Medak
Pocket operation.
(hina) ha sb