ZAGREB, Oct 18 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Ivica Racan on Friday told diplomatic representatives of EU countries and permanent members of the UN Security Council that Croatia was endeavouring to find the best solution in the dispute
with the Hague war crimes tribunal relating to the indictment against General Janko Bobetko within the framework of co-operation with the Tribunal, the government's Public and Media Relations Office reported.
ZAGREB, Oct 18 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Ivica Racan on Friday told
diplomatic representatives of EU countries and permanent members
of the UN Security Council that Croatia was endeavouring to find the
best solution in the dispute with the Hague war crimes tribunal
relating to the indictment against General Janko Bobetko within the
framework of co-operation with the Tribunal, the government's
Public and Media Relations Office reported. #L#
Racan invited representatives of EU member countries and permanent
UN Security Council members accredited to Croatia to present the
government's stances regarding co-operation with the Hague
tribunal, as well as the steps the government was taking regarding
the Bobetko indictment.
The press release said that Racan explained the government's known
position, to find the best possible solution to this matter within
the framework of co-operation with the Hague tribunal, taking into
account all the circumstances, including the general's health.
The premier repeated that the government's task was to point to the
fact that co-operation with the Hague tribunal does not pose a
threat to Croatia's stability and its reform policy, nor its bids
towards Euro-Atlantic integration. In that regard, he reiterated
the government's clear standpoint that it will not embark on
introducing amendments to the constitutional law on co-operation
with the Hague tribunal, the statement said.
The international representatives thanked the premier for his
information relating to the events surrounding General Bobetko,
and expressed their belief that the government would continue to
co-operate with the tribunal, as well as adhere to its
international obligations, the press release noted.
The statement further added that Racan thanked them for
understanding Croatia received from its friends and asserted that
the government was aware where the discontinuation of cooperation
with the Hague tribunal might take Croatia to.
Racan expressed his belief and optimism that a model would be found
to resolve problems through dialogue with the tribunal and the
prosecution, without bringing Croatia into conflict with the
tribunal or the international community and in that way risking
possible sanctions and international isolation, the government's
press release said.
Racan reiterated Croatia's resoluteness to process all war crimes
committed in Croatia, regardless of who committed them, which
should prevent similar situations from occurring again.
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and the head of the government's
office for co-operation with the Hague tribunal, Orsat Miljenic
also ended today's meeting.
(hina) sp/ha sb