ZAGREB, July 7 (Hina) - Shortly before 5 p.m. on Saturday, Croatian government members met for an extraordinary session at the government building in Zagreb. Present at a session of the Ivica Racan Cabinet, which met before the
government session, which is being held behind closed doors, were also the leaders of Croatia's ruling five-party coalition. Shortly after 4 p.m. the president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Drazen Budisa, Croatian Peasant Party's (HSS) Zlatko Tomcic, Croatian People's Party's (HNS) Vesna Pusic and Liberal Party's (LS) Zlatko Kramaric left the government building although it was previously announced that they would attend the session. The government is expected to make a political decision about requests presented by the chief prosecutor of the Hague war crimes tribunal, Carla del Ponte, during her visit to Zagreb on Friday. The requests refer to two sealed indictments, with arrest warrants
ZAGREB, July 7 (Hina) - Shortly before 5 p.m. on Saturday, Croatian
government members met for an extraordinary session at the
government building in Zagreb. Present at a session of the Ivica
Racan Cabinet, which met before the government session, which is
being held behind closed doors, were also the leaders of Croatia's
ruling five-party coalition.
Shortly after 4 p.m. the president of the Croatian Social Liberal
Party (HSLS), Drazen Budisa, Croatian Peasant Party's (HSS) Zlatko
Tomcic, Croatian People's Party's (HNS) Vesna Pusic and Liberal
Party's (LS) Zlatko Kramaric left the government building although
it was previously announced that they would attend the session.
The government is expected to make a political decision about
requests presented by the chief prosecutor of the Hague war crimes
tribunal, Carla del Ponte, during her visit to Zagreb on Friday. The
requests refer to two sealed indictments, with arrest warrants
which, the media speculate, refer to two Croatian generals.
After meeting Racan, del Ponte said that a month ago the ICTY
Prosecution sent the Croatian government two sealed indictments,
to which Prime Minister Racan raised some objections in writing.
Del Ponte said the purpose of her visit to Zagreb was to explain to
the Croatian premier the reasons why she could not meet his
demands.
Although the media speculated that Croatian President Stjepan
Mesic would also be present at today's session, his office denied
the information, saying the President's presence at the session
could be interpreted as pressure on the government, which is in
charge of cooperation with the Hague tribunal.
(hina) sb rml