ZAGREB, July 15 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan asked the parliament to give support to the government's policy of fulfilling its international commitments as well as its reformist policy. During Sunday's parliamentary
session, Prime Minister Racan retold the content of a letter he had recently forwarded to UN war crimes tribunal (ICTY) with his objections to the two indictments served by the ICTY to Zagreb in early June.
ZAGREB, July 15 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan asked
the parliament to give support to the government's policy of
fulfilling its international commitments as well as its reformist
policy.
During Sunday's parliamentary session, Prime Minister Racan retold
the content of a letter he had recently forwarded to UN war crimes
tribunal (ICTY) with his objections to the two indictments served
by the ICTY to Zagreb in early June.#L#
He informed MPs that he refuted a remark in the indictments that
during and in the wake of the 1995 liberation operation Storm, the
cumulative effect of the illegal acts, such as killings, plunder
and so on, led to a large-scale deportation and/or expulsion of
Krajina Serbs. There were allegations that 150,000 fled the area
then.
"I stressed that something like that cannot be true. It is the naked
truth that the Serb population moved out in a planned way at the very
start of the Storm and following the order of its leadership," Racan
said.
Premier said he had also stated that some concrete crimes had not
been perpetrated by Croatia's forces and that it remained to be
established whether members of the Croatian force committed
crimes. In addition, it should be established whether some other
persons, who were not part of Croatian troops, had committed such
crimes.
He added that he had also insisted on a clear definition of the so-
called Krajina as a self-styled and illegal creation set up by
rebels.
Otherwise, the responsibility of (Serbian and Yugoslav President)
Slobodan Milosevic and his aides for the aggression and criminal
consequences of the creation of a greater Serbia would be
questionable, Racan said.
In his letter Racan reminded that a large part of Croatia had been
occupied. He also emphasised the criminal role of the then Yugoslav
Army (JNA) and reminded that Croats had been ethnically cleansed
from the occupied areas and that numerous crimes were committed
against them in the so-called Krajina.
The government's cooperation with the Hague Tribunal does not mean
that the government supports the (sealed) indictments. Racan
announced that his cabinet would do their best to help defend
indictees, in the court process, particularly in segments Zagreb
could not accept.
The Tribunal has given assurances and agreed that it will not
criminalise the Homeland War, in particular the Croatian Army's
liberation operations and their legitimacy, said Racan who
described it as the great encouragement for the government.
According to the Tribunal's assurances, it will not apply
exclusively the criterion of the commanding responsibility while
issuing indictments and it will always take into consideration the
direct liability of individuals as well.
"A part of the text of the indictment fails to fully follow such
attitude, and some questions pose themselves," Racan disclosed.
He said he had also warned that some segments of the indictments had
been grounded on the direct commanding responsibility, although
there had been no direct relation between the indictees and some
crimes in question.
Racan revealed that he had opposed an assessment that the
indictees, together with some other persons, had planned and
encouraged the persecution, eviction and forcible deportation of a
part of the ethnic Serb population during the 1995 liberating
operation "Storm".
"One can get an impression that (...) such allegations of the
indictments partly criminalise or try to criminalise this
operation and that its legitimacy is brought into question," Racan
said.
He said he had advocated that the indictments should be
comprehensible to a great majority of Croatian citizens and that
they (ICTY indictments) cannot possibly be used as a weapon of
forces that oppose the cooperation with the Tribunal and the
prosecution of war criminals.
He objected, as he said, to some ambiguities in the indictments as
well.
PM recalled that the ICTY Production's Office had explained that
the indictments could not be altered after their confirmation by
the Tribunal, but it said that there would be room for objections in
the further process before that court.
Racan said it had never been disputable whether the government
would accept international obligations and respect Croatian laws,
but the Government found itself in a grave situation as it was aware
that each stand it showed would provoke reactions both in the
country and abroad.
We were aware that the conflict with the UN court would entail the
conflict with the international community, the isolation of the
country and sanctions.
"I maintain that those who advocate such developments betray
national interests," Racan said in his speech.
Premier expressed the government's readiness to use all the
possible legal means to help the indictees to defend themselves
before the Tribunal, if it comes to the trial, particularly in the
counts of the indictments with which Zagreb cannot agree. Racan
announced the government would use an institute called "amicus
curie" which makes it possible for his cabinet to interfere in the
trial. A trial chamber can allow a government to appear and expound
its stand on any case.
He reiterated that for the government as well as for a majority of
citizens the cooperation with the ICTY was indisputable and that
the authorities would use all the means to show the truth about the
Croatian Homeland War and protect the values of that war for the
country's independence.
The decision on the cooperation with the Tribunal is important for
prospects of Croatia as a democratic and law-based country and its
bids to be integrated in Europe.
Racan reiterated that his Cabinet is a government oriented towards
reforms and urged the parliament to give support not only to the
government's policy of the co-operation with the international
community but also to its reformist policy.
On July 7 Racan asked the parliament to hold a vote of confidence in
the government after his cabinet decided to comply with the ICTY's
request about the hand-over of two indictees, named in the two
sealed indictments and after four HSLS (Croatian Social Liberal)
ministers tendered resignation.
(hina) ms sb