ZAGREB, Oct 31 (Hina) - By selectively citing facts, the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, has accused Croatia before the UN Security Coincil of non-cooperation with the Tribunal regarding the cases of generals Janko Bobetko and
Ante Gotovina. Croatia will acquaint the Security Council with all facts and offer its interpretation, Croatia's Vice-Premier Goran Granic, who is chairing the council for cooperation with the ICTY, said on Thursday.
ZAGREB, Oct 31 (Hina) - By selectively citing facts, the ICTY Chief
Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, has accused Croatia before the UN
Security Coincil of non-cooperation with the Tribunal regarding
the cases of generals Janko Bobetko and Ante Gotovina. Croatia will
acquaint the Security Council with all facts and offer its
interpretation, Croatia's Vice-Premier Goran Granic, who is
chairing the council for cooperation with the ICTY, said on
Thursday. #L#
Addressing the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Del Ponte said her
confidence in the Croatian authorities had been misplaced because
they failed to arrest generals Gotovina and Bobetko, indicted for
war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY).
She said she had provided the Croatian authorities with advanced
notice of the existence of the indictments, however, in the case of
Bobetko, "instead of compliance with the Tribunal order, the
Croatian government has taken upon itself to seek to challenge the
warrant (for Bobetko's arrest) and the indictment itself".
"Del Ponte's address was no surprise to us and it was within our
expectations," Granic told reporters after Thursday's session of
the government's council for cooperation with the ICTY.
"What is perhaps disputable is the selective presentation of facts
to defend some theories. One is that we let Gen. Gotovina evade
apprehension and another one is that we want to obstruct the
Tribunal's work by filing objections and setting conditions, "
Granic said.
Granic announced that the government would inform the UN Security
Council about "facts in relation to the Chief Prosecutor's
Address."
"We regret that when facts were being presented, not all facts were
presented and we are going to notify the UN Security Council
Chairman .. we shall give the interpretation with quoting the facts
and documents," Granic said.
Del Ponte asserted before the UN Security Council that in May this
year she had warned Zagreb of an imminent indictment against
General Bobetko.
Granic responded that the government had been warned from various
unofficial sources that Bobetko was "the subject of interest" of
the Hague-based tribunal's prosecution.
"However, no written information had ever been sent to the
Government that an investigation was under way... the first written
information arrived on 18 September this year when I held talks with
Bobetko," Granic said.
"Bobetko was never mentioned at any official meeting," Granic
stressed.
He added that the government insisted that "interviews be held with
all potential suspects".
"In cases of Gotovina and Ademi such requests did exist... talks
were held with General (Petar) Stipetic," Granic said.
"Such request were not forwarded for General Bobetko, which is
great omission of the Prosecution... as I believe that this would
have removed many misunderstandings and problems," he said.
The Croatian official added that the government would continue co-
operating with the Prosecution and offer assistance to the ICTY
Appeals Chamber as to rule on Croatia's court depositions in the
shortest possible time.
(hina) ms