ZAGREB, July 13 (Hina) - The Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which was adopted by the U.N. Security Council upon the establishment of the Hague Tribunal in May 1993, has adequately
regulated the obligation of each former Yugoslav country to fully co-operate with the tribunal, ICTY spokesman Jim Landale told Hina over the phone. Asked about the tribunal's view on the Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) attempt to make amendments to the Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the ICTY, Landale said the Tribunal considered each move which could slow down or discontinue the cooperation as unacceptable. Landale explained it was not disputable if a country passed additional regulations if their purpose was to clarify ambiguities and promote a successful cooperation although, he said, Article 29 of the Hague Statute should suffice in that respect. This leads to the co
ZAGREB, July 13 (Hina) - The Statute of the International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which was adopted by the
U.N. Security Council upon the establishment of the Hague Tribunal
in May 1993, has adequately regulated the obligation of each former
Yugoslav country to fully co-operate with the tribunal, ICTY
spokesman Jim Landale told Hina over the phone.
Asked about the tribunal's view on the Croatian Democratic Union's
(HDZ) attempt to make amendments to the Constitutional Law on
Cooperation with the ICTY, Landale said the Tribunal considered
each move which could slow down or discontinue the cooperation as
unacceptable.
Landale explained it was not disputable if a country passed
additional regulations if their purpose was to clarify ambiguities
and promote a successful cooperation although, he said, Article 29
of the Hague Statute should suffice in that respect.
This leads to the conclusion that any change in domestic
legislation is not effective if it imposes restrictions on the
ICTY's Statute, which is binding for all countries.
HDZ parliamentary deputies moved amendments to the Constitutional
Law on the Cooperation between Croatia and the ICTY, which
authorise Croatian legislative bodies to decide if ICTY
indictments and requests for extradition are legally founded.
With the ICTY Statute the Security Council has eliminated any
possibility for the countries to change the content of the
indictments or evaluate them.
Landale pointed out that Croatian Premier Ivica Racan and President
Stjepan Mesic are committed to cooperation with the ICTY in good
faith.
In 1999, Croatia revealed the steps that should follow in case it
failed to cooperate with the ICTY. While the HDZ was in power,
Croatia was reported to the U.N. Security Council for failing to
cooperate with the ICTY prosecution, which could have led to
sanctions.
Over a month ago, Croatia received two sealed indictments with
extradition requests. The Statute of the Tribunal does not set the
deadline by which the extradition should take place, but it obliges
the country to act upon requests without delay.
Landale said the ICTY wishes to see Croatia fulfil its obligations
as soon as possible.
(hina) np rml