ZAGREB, Dec 16 (Hina) - General Ivan Korade on Monday ended his interview with International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) investigators about the Storm military operation and his role in it citing that all orders
that he issued were unquestionably clear, Korade's attorney said in Zagreb.
ZAGREB, Dec 16 (Hina) - General Ivan Korade on Monday ended his
interview with International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY) investigators about the Storm military operation
and his role in it citing that all orders that he issued were
unquestionably clear, Korade's attorney said in Zagreb. #L#
All of his orders that General Korade referred to and cited to the
Hague investigators were unquestionably clear and all indicate
that lower ranking officers acted in keeping with the Geneva
convention and international humanitarian and war rights, the
retired general's attorney, Zeljko Olujic said.
Olujic had requested Defence Minister Zeljka Antunovic to
declassify all relevant documentation and was allowed to inspect
the documents, however, he was not permitted to photocopy anything
and so Korade was compelled to quote his orders.
"The Hague-based tribunal investigators can obtain these documents
for inspection in the Defence Ministry and because we were not
allowed to photocopy the documents the ICTY investigators can
request the Defence Ministry to present them with the relevant
documents," Olujic said.
The Hague investigators asked the general about incidents
following the Storm operation, Olujic said and referred to
statements made by General Ivan Cermak who stated he was
embarrassed by the actions of some Croatian soldiers and that
crimes were committed.
General Korade responded that he had no information on such crimes
and that he had not been in contact with Cermak and if indeed such
events did occur then everyone was responsible for actions in the
zone of their command, Olujic added.
Korade was the commander of the VII Guard brigade during the Storm
operation which was the first to enter Knin. Once the IVth brigade
entered Knin the Storm operation was no longer relevant as far as he
was concerned, Olujic said explaining that later the supreme
commander - President Tudjman - arrived and received a report from
the relevant commanders - General Ante Gotovina and Rahim Ademi.
The discussion about the Medak Pocket and Flash operations were
brief, Olujic said. Ivan Korade said that he did not take part in
those operations and the Hague investigators accepted this. Even
though it was foreseen that Korade, who was retired in 1997, would
continue his interview on Tuesday, according to his attorney,
Korade's statement ended on Monday.
(hina) sp it