ZAGREB, July 8 (Hina) - President Stipe Mesic issued a statement to the public on Sunday in connection with the latest requests from the Hague war crimes tribunal and a government decision to act in line with them.
ZAGREB, July 8 (Hina) - President Stipe Mesic issued a statement to
the public on Sunday in connection with the latest requests from the
Hague war crimes tribunal and a government decision to act in line
with them.#L#
The government has made the only decision it objectively could, the
President said. "It decided what it had to."
He sees the raising of the temperature and causing of a state of
emergency psychosis as "inappropriate and excessive.
"A legal government cannot and must not even consider not carrying
out international commitments. In this respect, the government did
not have anything to discuss. The only thing that had to be done was
done - to reach a decision on launching proceedings to grant the
Hague tribunal's request."
The President reiterated Croatia was bound to cooperate with the
Hague tribunal by its own decisions. "This cooperation is under the
government's exclusive jurisdiction. The government... is the only
political body that should and must deal with this. This is the
reason why I did not attend the government's extraordinary, closed-
door session (on Saturday). What it debated is simply not within my
competence."
Mesic said the situation in the country, however, and Croatia's
standing in the world in particular, were within the President's
competence and the reason for today's statement.
"The Hague indictments should have been expected. Only the fact
that the Croatian public still does not know the real and complete
truth about everything that was done and happened during the war can
be a source of surprise.
"It is known there were during the war crimes on the Croatian side as
well.
"It is known those crimes were committed during Operations Flash
and Storm, and after them, and, judging by everything, in Operation
'pocket of Medak.' This, probably, is not all.
"... starting with the assumption that everybody is innocent until
proven guilty... Croatia will help persons who have been indicted
have a fair defence, and if they are members of the Croatian army,
active or retired, exempt them from the obligation to keep a
military secret."
The President reminded the Hague tribunal had been established by
the United Nations and that Croatia had committed to cooperate with
it. "To date, not one suspect from Croatian army ranks has appeared
in the Hague, nor has any Croat from Croatia been indicted.
"The Hague tribunal does not prosecute individuals of certain
nations but suspects. Every one of them has a first and last name,
while crime has no nationality.
"A fact which nobody contests, that Croatia defended itself, does
not imply that war crimes may not have been committed in that
defence.
"The Hague tribunal has never questioned the character of the
Homeland Defence War, nor the legality or legitimacy of certain
operations undertaken during that war... The Hague tribunal has
never and in no way attempted to criminalise the Homeland... War and
is not doing so now.
"On the other hand, the fact that war crimes were committed in the
Homeland... War on the Croatian side throws a shadow on the whole
war and all of its participants, for as long as those accountable
for crimes are not named, prosecuted and sentenced, regardless of
their former or current functions.
"Only the individualisation of guilt can prevent the establishment
of collective accountability. The Croatian people must not and will
not be hostage to those who bloodied their hands, disgracing
Croatia, regardless of the merits they might otherwise have."
The President called on all state bodies and institutions to be
serious and responsible in their actions, in line with the law and
Croatia's international commitments.
He called on citizens not to fall for provocation and to help lead
Croatia into the democratic world. "I am certain we can and will
make it," Mesic said in the statement.
(hina) ha