ZAGREB, Oct 22 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Tuesday that in the case of Gen. Janko Bobetko the Croatian government would wait for the rulings of the Hague war crimes tribunal's Appeals Chamber and the Croatian
Constitutional Court, and then act in line with law, i.e. forward the indictment against Bobetko to the competent county court for further procedure.
ZAGREB, Oct 22 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Tuesday
that in the case of Gen. Janko Bobetko the Croatian government would
wait for the rulings of the Hague war crimes tribunal's Appeals
Chamber and the Croatian Constitutional Court, and then act in line
with law, i.e. forward the indictment against Bobetko to the
competent county court for further procedure. #L#
Racan announced the government would honour the Appeals Chamber
ruling, but declined to speculate as to what it might be.
He told reporters that even if the government's two appeals against
the Bobetko indictment were okayed, it would not mean that the
indictment would be taken off the agenda. The arrest warrant,
perhaps, or some elements of the indictment, but not the indictment
itself, he said.
Racan stated that the condition of the 83-year-old Bobetko was
grave, that he could not move or leave Zagreb.
He added the medical files about the general's condition had been
submitted to the tribunal's president and chief prosecutor a week
ago.
Racan regretted that despite the government's efforts, one could
not speak about cooperation with Bobetko, "specifically, with the
people around him, his political mentors".
The government regrets that, aware that it is detrimental to its
efforts and the general himself, who despite his grave condition
will not be hospitalised but is "bombarded with misinformation,
even insinuations," said Racan. Bobetko is hostage to bad
judgements, and the government cannot allow itself to be hostage to
those judgements and political ambitions, he added.
Racan said he was not referring to Bobetko's lawyers and doctors,
but other people whom he declined to name. The general's grave
situation is being abused, and this is not only a political but a
moral issue as well, he said.
The government wants Bobetko to be hospitalised because of the
gravity of his condition, Racan stated, labelling speculation that
the general would be forcibly transferred to The Hague if admitted
to hospital as misinformation and insinuations.
Asked if during his recent meeting with the general they had
discussed hospitalisation, Racan said he did not want to speak
about the details of those talks, stating only, "We had an in-depth
talk about an optimal solution".
Asked about claims that Bobetko refused to acknowledge the Hague
tribunal's jurisdiction, Racan said the optimal solution was to be
found in cooperation with the UN court.
A solution which the tribunal would not acknowledge is not
possible, the PM said. If Croatia accepted the opinion of people
around Bobetko contesting the tribunal's jurisdiction, it would
become the subject of the indictment, be served with it and
sentenced with sanctions, said Racan.
He stated Croatia was investing efforts to no longer be hostage to
past omissions and obstacles to prosecuting certain war crimes,
including attempts at organised cover-ups. Croatian citizens
"don't want to eat grass because of that, and democratic
institutions mustn't allow it," he said.
Racan stated that several investigations were underway which he was
confident would end in trials, citing the Paulin Dvor case as an
example.
The PM conceded that Croatia got a good deal in the report of the
European Union Council of Ministers of Monday, but added he had no
illusions.
Through complex and intensive activity in Europe and elsewhere the
government has tried to get more understanding for its efforts,
assure interlocutors that those efforts are within the framework of
cooperation with the Hague tribunal, aware that the opposite
"returns Croatia headlong into not only criticism but sanctions as
well," said Racan.
He stated that in his talks with the tribunal's chief prosecutor,
Carla Del Ponte, in Zagreb tomorrow, he would be able to confirm the
firm commitment of Croatia and the government to cooperate with the
tribunal and solve open issues through cooperation.
Racan said he did not expect new indictments tomorrow, that there
were no indications of that or that the Bobetko indictment might be
extended. The government has no knowledge about that, he said,
adding that there had been some statements from the prosecution
that some investigations were underway but he could not speculate
as to the outcome.
As for the absence of Goran Granic, the chairman of the government's
council for cooperation with the Hague tribunal, from tomorrow's
talks with Del Ponte, Racan said it was a coincidence. Granic is
attending a world energy congress in Egypt which was arranged much
earlier than Del Ponte's visit, he said.
(hina) ha sb