ASSOCIATION FOR PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OPPOSES COOPERATION WITH ICTY

ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - The Croatian association for the protection and promotion of human rights on Friday expressed dissatisfaction over the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), particularly over the trial against Croats, Carla del Ponte's visit to Croatia and the trial against retired general Mirko Norac. The legality of the Hague Tribunal is questionable, as well as the fact whether the tribunal is really competent for trials against Croatians, as victims of the greater Serbian aggression, president of the association Nikola Muslim told today's news conference. He also wondered how can defending a Homeland become a crime, adding the Croatian judicial authorities cannot agree to this theory. Member of the association Marko Veselica, who was an observer at the trial against General Norac, criticised the work of Croatia's judiciary and the authorities. "The trial against general Norac is a trial against the Homeland War," Veselica stressed. He advocated the abolishment of a constitutional law on cooperation between Croatia and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, adding Slobodan Milosevic's extradition would be an excuse for even greater pressure of the International community on the Croatian authorities. (hina) it