ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - The consensus on Croatia's cooperation with the ICTY which was reached in parliament has been disrupted, said the leaders of opposition parties who held a meeting with Prime Minister Ivica Racan on
Tuesday.
ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - The consensus on Croatia's cooperation with
the ICTY which was reached in parliament has been disrupted, said
the leaders of opposition parties who held a meeting with Prime
Minister Ivica Racan on Tuesday. #L#
They described the meeting as useful, but said the government and
the opposition remained at their previous positions regarding
cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the case of Gen. Janko Bobetko.
Croatian Bloc president Ivic Pasalic told reporters his party
believed the consensus on cooperation with the ICTY existed until a
statement PM Racan made ahead of the recent visit of ICTY chief
prosecutor Carla Del Ponte to Zagreb.
"It became obvious then that the government had abandoned the
consensus reached in the Croatian parliament and decided to take
another path, to serve General Janko Bobetko with the indictment,"
said Pasalic.
He added the government regarded the Bobetko case as a concrete one,
whereas the HB insisted on solving problems in principle.
"The indictments against Generals Bobetko and (Ante) Gotovina
accuse the Homeland War. Not one case should be solved separately
but a lasting solution has to be found. Croatia can't live between
two indictments," said Pasalic.
He stated the solution was in having citizens decide at a referendum
to change the constitutional law on Croatia's cooperation with the
ICTY.
Jadranka Kosor said the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) had not
obstructed the government's legal steps in the Bobetko case. She
added the HDZ saw the Bobetko and Gotovina indictments as
unacceptable, and dismissed allegations that Bobetko was being
manipulated with.
Kosor announced the HDZ's further steps would be known after the
Appeals Chamber's ruling.
Mate Granic of the Democratic Centre said the ruling would reduce
the government's manoeuvring space and lead to stronger pressure
and threats of sanctions.
Anto Djapic said the Croatian Party of Rights found the Bobetko
indictment unacceptable as well. Croatia should not accept a
negative ruling by the Appeals Chamber, he said.
"Croatia mustn't have illusions that it might win the political
dispute with the ICTY," said Damir Kajin of the Istrian Democratic
Assembly.
The opposition leaders said they had agreed with the Prime Minister
that similar meetings, if necessary, should be held in the future as
well.
(hina) ha