MESIC: THERE IS NO NEED TO EXAGGERATE SITUATION IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, July 11 (Hina) - President Stipe Mesic said on Wednesday there was no need to exaggerate the situation in the country in the wake of the latest requests from the UN war crimes tribunal. "Croatia has a law on cooperation with the Hague tribunal and the suspects should have been enabled to defend themselves during investigation, but the (previous) HDZ government would not allow it, which has to be amended now. Those who are not guilty will be set free. Croatia and its people must not be anybody's hostages," the President told Croatian Radio. Guilt has to be individualised to put an end to collective accusations, and those who committed crimes have to answer, he said. "Croatia must not be isolated again or get sanctions. It would prevent the country from overcoming the crisis," he said. Asked to comment on Prime Minister Ivica Racan's motion to parliament to vote on confidence in the incumbent government, he said Racan wished to confirm the determination to persist in reforms and a general consensus on the implementation of the government's programme. Mesic is confident the government will win great support in parliament. He declined to comment on the stances of Drazen Budisa, the resigned president of the Social Liberals (HSLS), the chief ruling coalition partner of Racan's Social Democrats (SDP), which ran against the government's decision to act in line with the ICTY requests for the hand-over of suspects from the two latest indictments. The government's decision has prompted four HSLS ministers to resign. According to Mesic, ministers must be loyal to the government and the programme adopted by parliament. Dual loyalty undermines the government's odds to realise its objectives, he said. The government is implementing a formulated policy and programme and those who disagree should leave the ruling coalition, he said. Asked if Croatia needed a government of national salvation, the President said this was a big question. He said early elections were possible, as well as a minority government, but that it required parliament's support. As for his recent talks with Croatian Army general Rahim Ademi, allegedly one of the Hague suspects, Mesic said Ademi was willing to answer all questions and should be enabled to defend himself. He reminded the military chief-of-staff, General Petar Stipetic, had proved his innocence in an interview with representatives of the Hague tribunal. Mesic is confident no innocent man will be convicted. He reminded he received an apology from the Tribunal's deputy chief prosecutor, Graham Blewitt, over unfounded suspicions regarding Stipetic. The President said he was not familiar with the whereabouts of retired General Ante Gotovina, another alleged Hague suspect, and stressed he had not seen the latest sealed indictments. Mesic does not believe the tribunal's chief prosecutor has cause to report Croatia to the United Nations Security Council for non- cooperation with the Tribunal. He dismissed allegations of another 20 indictments against Croats as speculation. The President is confident there will be no road blockades in protest against the government decision. "The people are too smart... it would mean the destruction of Croatia's economy and I am certain the citizens will not allow it," he said. (hina) ha