ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan told reporters on Tuesday that he confirmed at today's meeting with opposition leaders that the government would honour the ruling of the Hague war crimes tribunal's Appeals Chamber on
the government's depositions regarding the case of Gen. Janko Bobetko.
ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan told reporters on
Tuesday that he confirmed at today's meeting with opposition
leaders that the government would honour the ruling of the Hague war
crimes tribunal's Appeals Chamber on the government's depositions
regarding the case of Gen. Janko Bobetko. #L#
Croatia, as a European state, will respect the Appeals Chamber's
decisions, Racan said after a two-hour meeting with the leaders of
the Social Liberals, the Croatian Democratic Union, the Democratic
Centre, the Croatian People's Party, the Christian Democrats, the
Croatian Bloc, the Istrian Democratic Assembly, and the Croatian
Party of Rights.
Racan revealed that yesterday the government had forwarded a letter
to the Appeals Chamber, once again stressing its willingness to
resolve open issues with the International Criminal Tribunal for
the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) through cooperation, using the legal
means available.
The PM dismissed accusations from the opposition parties that the
government was inventing the danger of international sanctions.
He recalled the advice given today by European Commission
Ambassador Jacques Wunnenburger that Croatia should freeze its
candidacy for full European Union membership for some time.
Racan, however, resolutely dismissed Wunnenburger's claims that
Croatia cooperated with the ICTY only due to international
pressure. He added that the incumbent government had been
cooperating with the ICTY through its programme and voluntarily for
three years.
The PM said that Croatia was already suffering as a result of
unfounded evaluations that it did not cooperate with the ICTY.
Croatia's credit rating is worse than a month ago and there will be
stricter conditions for new ventures and loans, he said.
The government's task is to diminish the damage as much as possible,
Racan said, stressing the government was aware of the gravity of the
situation.
The PM said that reports of Croatia's non-cooperation with the ICTY
had adverse repercussions in Europe given that said cooperation was
a criteria for European integration.
This government will not lead Croatia into conflict with Europe and
isolation, Racan reiterated.
He disagreed with some opposition leaders who said the serving of
ICTY indictments would foment tension and deep political rifts in
Croatian society. Racan said he did not expect it, stating that
refusal to act on the Appeals Chamber's rulings would have negative
repercussions.
The PM said the situation was serious and urged all political
factors to act responsibly.
Speaking about today's meeting, he said he had reiterated the
government's standpoints on the Bobetko case and Croatia's current
situation.
Racan was asked to comment on statements from the opposition that
national consensus had been "broken" by his claims that the
government would act on the Appeals Chamber's ruling in the Bobetko
case. He said the government had not counted on serious support from
the opposition anyway and that he was sorry for that.
Asked if he had suggested to the opposition leaders to urge the 83-
year-old Bobetko to go to hospital, Racan said that all had answered
they had no say in that. He added, however, that members of some of
the parties whose leaders he met today often visited the general,
but declined to name names.
The journalists in front of Bobetko's house know very well who goes
in and who has influence, the PM stated.
(hina) ha