ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Friday night that General Janko Bobetko was secure in his home "as far as the bodies of the democratic government are concerned", but, "those who call themselves his
protectors and do not allow him to be treated in hospital are the ones threatening him."
ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on
Friday night that General Janko Bobetko was secure in his home "as
far as the bodies of the democratic government are concerned", but,
"those who call themselves his protectors and do not allow him to be
treated in hospital are the ones threatening him." #L#
Racan told the "Obiteljski Radio (Family Radio)" that General
Bobetko was surrounded by people who wished to cause a commotion at
any price, and who were using General Bobetko's difficult situation
to topple the existing authorities.
Despite this, the security situation in the country is not
jeopardised, he said.
He added that misinformation about the government wanting to
extradite General Bobetko independently of its legal acts or his
health condition was ridiculous.
"This is all an attempt to implement a bad policy at the expense of
General Bobetko and his health. It is normal that we will not agree
with this policy which is also unpatriotic," he said.
Racan added that if the government's request with the international
war crime tribunal's Appeals Chamber did not succeed, the
government would respect the tribunal's decision, but further
procedure was possible to stop on account of General Bobetko's
health condition.
Commenting on his talks with the tribunal's chief prosecutor, Carla
Del Ponte, in Zagreb two days ago, Racan said the talks were usual,
not "dramatic as it was announced."
Asked to compare the Bobetko case with that of General Ante
Gotovina, Racan said that in Gotovina's case, the prosecution had
several times looked for cooperation and talks with Gotovina, but
the previous government and Gotovina himself had refused.
In the case of General Bobetko, the prosecution did not request
talks, but immediately sent the government an arrest warrant, Racan
said.
Del Ponte is completely satisfied with cooperation from Croatia
which has so far responded to 296 requests for help from the
international tribunal, Racan said.
"Croatia and the Hague-based tribunal are in dispute over several
latest cases, including indictments against generals Gotovina and
Bobetko, but this cannot cast a general shadow of doubt on Croatia's
readiness to cooperate with the tribunal," he said.
Asked whether Croatia had, after talks with Del Ponte, managed to
avoid the danger of sanctions, Racan said that this danger still
existed, and "we can still get sanctions if people around General
Bobetko fail to show even minimum cooperation."
He added that Croatia should in the future respect the cooperation
with the tribunal, while possible open issues should be solved
through dialogue.
"This means that we must respect any new indictments if we receive
them," Racan said.
He added that it was important for Croatia that the possible new
indictments do not negate the justification of the Homeland War and
Croatia's response to the Greater Serbian aggression.
(hina) lml