RACAN: WE HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT NEW ICTY INDICTMENTS

RACAN, June 8 (Hina) - Croatia's Premier Ivica Racan on Friday said he had no information that the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) was preparing new indictments against some persons in connection with crimes committed during the Croatian liberating operation "Storm" in summer 1995. "I don't know how you got the information," Racan said at a news conference, responding to a reporter who asked whether it was true that the UN war crimes court was wrapping up three indictments, one of which referring to General Janko Bobetko. "We have no such information about unsealed indictments against specific people," Racan added. The Croatian PM said the Hague-based Tribunal was conducting many investigations and it remained to be seen if, when and how they might lead to concrete indictments. "It is certainly possible, if not also probable," Racan said. He reiterated that his Cabinet was in favour of cooperation with the Tribunal in attempts to clarify and process concrete crimes, but was against working together if the entire Homeland Defence War and the liberating military and police operations would be the subject matter of inquires. Croatia's First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic said he held regular working meetings with the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, and that there were no problems in relations between Zagreb and the ICTY. He reiterated they had agreed on the stance that only concrete war crimes could be the subjects of indictments. Granic is confident the Tribunal will take into account its own fairness concerning "timing" and the course of events relating to those who launched wars and aggression against Croatia, Bosnia- Herzegovina and Kosovo. Prime Minister Racan resolutely refuted the possibility of new divisions in the Balkans under which Croatia's southernmost peninsula Prevlaka with a part of the Adriatic would be given to "Serbian lands", about which the Belgrade media have recently speculated, citing international circles. He said Zagreb was following developments in Argentina in relation to the house arrest for a former president, Carlos Menem, suspected of being involved in the delivery of arms to Croatia when an international arms embargo was imposed on Croatia and when the country was in a very difficult situation. Today it is easier to talk about it, but at the time it was very hard to do anything, the premier said. Responding to reporters' questions, Racan confirmed that Zagreb had delivered a small shipment of weapons to Macedonia, but that it happened only once. Speaking of Croatia's aspiration to become a NATO member-state, he said the government did not make any move without consulting its current and future partners. (hina) sb ms