ORTYNSKI APOLOGISES TO SUPREME COURT PRESIDENT, JUDGES

ZAGREB, June 28 (Hina) - Chief State Prosecutor Radovan Ortynski has sent a letter to Supreme Court president Ivica Crnic and all Croatian judges apologising for his statement of Tuesday and informing them that he has made his mandate available. Ortynski forwarded the letter on Wednesday and Crnic informed reporters about its content ahead of Thursday's meeting of Croatian and Slovene supreme courts' delegations at Plitvicka Jezera. In the letter Ortynski admits that in his comment on a Supreme Court decision to release two detainees he said the decision was illegal and proved that the Croatian judiciary was corrupt. My statement was inappropriate because it questions the honour, reputation and integrity of Croatian judges, who I particularly respect because I was a judge myself. I understand that my dissatisfaction with the court's decision does not justify my reaction and I hope my apology will be accepted so that in this difficult moment of the fight against corruption and organised crime we could act together successfully within our legal and constitutional powers, Ortynski said asking the Supreme Court president, the judges who decided about the case in question, and all who felt insulted to accept his apology. He also stated that he made his mandate available in a statement he submitted to the Government, Parliament, Parliament's Justice Committee and the Justice Ministry. First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic confirmed at today's government session that along with his apology, Ortynski also offered his mandate, should the government decide his statement required such a decision. The government will discuss the case after Prime Minister Racan returns from his holiday, probably at the next session, Granic said. Granic confirmed that he had met Ortynski and Crnic last night. (hina) rml