SPLIT, Oct 30 (Hina) - The president of the Democratic Centre (DC), Mate Granic, told reporters in Split on Wednesday that Croatia's relations with the Hague-based international war crimes tribunal were "foggy", especially with
regards to the indictment against General Janko Bobetko, to which the prime minister contributed the most by claiming that he would fight and seek an opinion of the Constitutional Court to protect the general from being extradited to The Hague.
SPLIT, Oct 30 (Hina) - The president of the Democratic Centre (DC),
Mate Granic, told reporters in Split on Wednesday that Croatia's
relations with the Hague-based international war crimes tribunal
were "foggy", especially with regards to the indictment against
General Janko Bobetko, to which the prime minister contributed the
most by claiming that he would fight and seek an opinion of the
Constitutional Court to protect the general from being extradited
to The Hague. #L#
The premier even said he would resign if the government failed to
protect Bobetko. However, after the visit of the tribunal's chief
prosecutor to Zagreb, Racan said that the tribunal's decision was
final and if its council of appeals ruled against Croatia's
requests, Bobetko should be extradited, Granic said.
It is evident that Racan's first statement was a tactic which
completely politicises the Bobetko case, although this is
exclusively a judicial issue. Recent polls indicate that the prime
minister made a good political assessment and that his Social
Democratic Party won points among voters in the case of general
Bobetko, Granic added.
It is a fact that Bobetko is a very ill man and nobody in Croatia
should even consider his extradition to The Hague, the DC president
said, adding that, on the other hand, the decision of the Appeals
Chamber was final and that the tribunal was above domestic laws.
"The government is not having an easy time, but I am convinced that I
would know how to protect the general without disrupting relations
with the tribunal," Granic stressed. He added that if the Appellate
Council ruled against Croatia's requests, pressures on Croatia
would increase and the country would be under threat of sanctions.
One should fight with other means, Granic said, adding that a
discussion should be initiated about the legitimacy of the Homeland
War before the UN Security Council, which established the
international tribunal, since the Council would not hold
discussions about an individual.
(hina) lml sb