BRUSSELS, Oct 18 (Hina) - Nobody has the right to bring Croatia's future into question by not respecting international obligations, but Croatia does have the right to use all available legal possibilities, which NATO understands and
accepts completely, Croatian Defence Minister Zeljka Antunovic said in Brussels on Friday after talks with NATO Secretary-General George Robertson.
BRUSSELS, Oct 18 (Hina) - Nobody has the right to bring Croatia's
future into question by not respecting international obligations,
but Croatia does have the right to use all available legal
possibilities, which NATO understands and accepts completely,
Croatian Defence Minister Zeljka Antunovic said in Brussels on
Friday after talks with NATO Secretary-General George Robertson.
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Speaking to Croatian reporters at the NATO headquarters, Antunovic
said the talks were very good and that she was convinced that
Robertson had fully accepted Croatia's message regarding its
cooperation with the Hague-based international war crimes
tribunal.
"At this time I am certain that the secretary-general truly
accepted our message and that we understand each other well. This
means that we clearly understand messages relayed from NATO, but
also that NATO understands well the messages and activities of the
Croatian government," the minister said.
During the talks, Antunovic reiterated the government's firm
stance that it would not yield its proceedings with the Hague
tribunal. Robertson again warned about the necessity of
cooperation of all countries with The Hague.
Croatia "has the right to use all legal instruments in line with the
tribunal's Regulations and Statute, which the tribunal itself had
accepted, as did the NATO secretary-general," Antunovic said.
"He only warned about the need to follow these rules, and the fact is
that Croatia has veered from its obligations in no segment, nor does
it wish to," the minister said.
Asked whether Robertson accepted Croatia's arguments to enter a
legal dispute with the Hague tribunal, the Croatian minister said
that the arguments held water for NATO, the tribunal, the Croatian
government and the entire international community.
"As long as such regulations and possibilities exist, nobody has
the right to contest them to anyone, nor to the Croatian government,
of course," the minister said.
NATO spokesman Yves Brodeur told Croatian reporters that
Robertson's message was unequivocal and that cooperation with the
Hague tribunal was a commitment not only for Croatia, but all
countries.
The issue is very simple -- if a war crimes indictment has been
issued against a person, that person must be brought before
justice, Brodeur said relaying Robertson's statement.
Antunovic and Robertson also tackled other issues important for
Croatia and NATO, primarily the Membership Action Plan and reforms
of the Croatian defence system, Brodeur said.
According to him, both NATO and Croatia have equal views regarding
the development of the situation, and NATO expressed satisfaction
with what had been achieved so far in some areas, while a lot more
had to be done in others.
NATO has received assurances that Croatia will adhere to its
obligations and that it is approaching the admission process very
seriously, which is a good thing, the spokesman said.
Antunovic said she had acquainted Robertson with the fact that the
process of very difficult and sensitive reforms of the Croatian
Armed Forces had begun, and "a final and crucial decision has been
made, and we are optimists regarding the successful completion of
the first step".
She expressed satisfaction with the fact that the secretary-
general had recognised certain results already achieved in
Croatia, as well as that the first NATO-envisaged national annual
plan had been drawn up.
With talks with Robertson, Antunovic concluded her visit to Belgium
and will return to Croatia later today.
(hina) lml sb