MESIC: HAGUE TRIBUNAL WILL PROSECUTE MILOSEVIC FOR WAR CRIMES

SALZBURG, July 3 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic said in Salzburg on Tuesday it did not matter whether former Yugoslav counterpart Slobodan Milosevic recognised the Hague war crimes tribunal. The important thing is that the tribunal will prosecute him for war crimes and not for a policy, he said. "The important thing is that the Hague tribunal will prosecute him fairly, not for a policy, but for war crimes and genocide," Mesic told reporters at a European economy summit. Asked to comment on allegations from anonymous sources to the effect that two sealed indictments from The Hague had arrived in Zagreb accusing Croats of war crimes, Mesic said he had no knowledge of the matter. He believes the individualisation of guilt for others who may have committed war crimes will be easier after Milosevic's extradition. "The Hague tribunal should be asked whom this refers to," he said. Speaking about Yugoslavia's chances of survival as a federation, the Croatian President said he did not see any integrative factor that would keep Serbia and Montenegro together, but added the issue would be solved by the two republics' citizens. As for Kosovo, he said that after the last war it was difficult to imagine "formal, let alone real ties" between Serbia and Kosovo. Mesic said there was no need to have a new confederation in Southeast Europe given an agreement on the inviolability of borders. He described the three-day European economy summit in Salzburg, which ends today, as successful. The main message is that the European Union wants countries in southeast Europe to join, while the countries in question see membership in the Union as the only way to democracy and progress, he said. In talking to Croatian members of the press earlier on, Mesic dismissed the notion of a customs union which would comprise countries in Southeast Europe, which in Salzburg was endorsed by George Soros. The region's countries must establish economic cooperation with EU countries, as well as cooperation among themselves, and not be politically linked within the region, said Mesic. (hina) ha sb