RACAN EXPECTS NORAC TO APPEAR BEFORE COURT

ZAGREB, Feb 21 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Wednesday that given the latest statement from The Hague he expected retired general Mirko Norac to respond to his court summons. Addressing reporters in Zagreb, Racan reiterated today's statement by the Hague war crimes tribunal's chief prosecutor saying the tribunal would not insist on taking over the Norac case. Racan said the tribunal's decision concerned the 'Gospic case' but not other cases of possible war crimes committed in Croatia between 1991 and 1995, which, he stressed, are within the jurisdiction of the Croatian judiciary. We have been informed, the prime minister said, that the Hague tribunal has expressed satisfaction with the cooperation with the Croatian government, and we, too, are satisfied. "Thanks to that cooperation, I guarantee on behalf of the Government that the Gospic case will be processed by the Croatian judiciary as well as that the possible prosecution of General Norac over the Gospic case or other possible cases committed between 1991 and 1995 will be dealt with by the Croatian judiciary," Racan said. This refers to the Medak Pocket and operation 'Storm' too, Racan confirmed. This, he said, is the firm stand of both the Hague prosecution and Croatian government, which must prove that it has a competent judicial system. Asked whether this referred to other Croatian generals, the prime minister said he could not speak about other cases but only those which had been initiated, and the Norac case had been initiated by a Croatian court. I would not like to answer hypothetical questions, he added. (hina) sb rml