ARMY CHIEF-OF-STAFF: I WAS EXEMPTED FROM KEEPING STATE SECRET

ZAGREB, Nov 8 (Hina) - The Croatian Armed Forces Chief-Of-Staff, General Petar Stipetic, said on Friday he had been exempted from keeping official and state secrets when he was interviewed by ICTY experts in a suspect's capacity in Zagreb last year. #L# Stipetic was interviewed by ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia) investigators at the UN office in Zagreb in the presence of his attorney in connection with war crimes allegedly committed by Croatian forces in the Medak Pocket, Storm, and Flash operations. Commenting on the fact that some foreign officers refused to answer ICTY questions by referring to their obligation to keep official and state secrets, Stipetic said that Croatian citizens, both soldiers and civilians, were obliged to cooperate with the Hague- based Tribunal. Nobody has or could be exempted from that responsibility, he said. Stipetic said he would remain the military chief-of-staff even though he had turned 65, which the law stipulates is the retirement age. The general said he had been appointed to the office by the President of the Republic and Armed Forces Supreme Commander, Stjepan Mesic, and that he would be glad to cede the post to someone else when Mesic decided to relieve him of duty. Stipetic spoke to reporters after receiving Croatian military observers who had returned from a UN Mission to Sierra Leone. (hina) ha sb