GOVT. FOR PROJECT ON HOMELAND WAR, INVESTIGATING WW2 CRIMES

ZAGREB, March 9 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Friday confirmed there was a need for the implementation of a special scientific programme on the early 1990s Homeland Defence War, as well as the investigation and if possible prosecution of people who committed war crimes during and immediately after World War II. This government does not dispute that all war crimes must be punished, regardless of who were the perpetrators and victims and which side they belonged to. The sponsor of the Homeland Defence War project, to be financed by the government, is the Croatian Historical Institute, while the Croatian State Archive will file the material and set the way of its preservation. The government called upon the citizens who posses documents and other materials on the Homeland Defence War to notify the State Archive. The government bound the Justice Minister to request from the State Prosecutor's Office a report on the state of files on war crimes committed during and immediately after World War II. The government requested the Interior Ministry to take appropriate measures to investigate the crimes and discover the perpetrators. The Interior Ministry must submit a report to the government within six months. (hina) it