ZAGREB, July 26 (Hina) - The fact that the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on Thursday officially announced that it indicted General Ante Gotovina does not change anything in the conduct of the Croatian
Interior Ministry, which is working in line with the order of the Zagreb County Court and the issued domestic arrest warrant, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Zinka Bardic said Thursday, confirming media speculations that the arrest warrant issued after "an ICTY indictee" referred to Gotovina. Bardic declined to comment on measures police were taking to arrest Gotovina and whether the Interior Ministry had information on Gotovina's whereabouts. When asked whether the Interior Ministry was thinking to put Gotovina on the international wanted list, the spokeswoman said it was too early to tell, stressing that Gotovina was put on Croatia's wanted list only three days ago.
ZAGREB, July 26 (Hina) - The fact that the International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on Thursday officially
announced that it indicted General Ante Gotovina does not change
anything in the conduct of the Croatian Interior Ministry, which is
working in line with the order of the Zagreb County Court and the
issued domestic arrest warrant, Interior Ministry spokeswoman
Zinka Bardic said Thursday, confirming media speculations that the
arrest warrant issued after "an ICTY indictee" referred to
Gotovina.
Bardic declined to comment on measures police were taking to arrest
Gotovina and whether the Interior Ministry had information on
Gotovina's whereabouts.
When asked whether the Interior Ministry was thinking to put
Gotovina on the international wanted list, the spokeswoman said it
was too early to tell, stressing that Gotovina was put on Croatia's
wanted list only three days ago.
The ICTY on Thursday confirmed speculations that apart from General
Rahim Ademi, who surrendered to the tribunal on Wednesday, also
indicted was General Gotovina.
Gotovina was indicted of crimes against humanity and the violation
of war laws and customs, committed against Serb civilians during
the Croatian military and police operation of "Storm".
The Croatian Interior Ministry forwarded the ICTY arrest warrant
and indictments to the Zagreb County Court on July 13. A Zagreb
County Court investigating judge, whose name has not yet been
revealed, issued an arrest warrant on the very same day.
Considering that the police failed to track Gotovina down, the
Court put the General on Croatia's wanted list on July 23.
Should information indicate that Gotovina is outside of Croatia,
the Interior Ministry can put him on the international wanted list
through Interpol.
Since the day the government announced it had received two secret
indictments form the ICTY, Gotovina was not seen in public, and
according to claims of some Homeland War organisations he is
currently in the Zadar region (southern Croatia).
Chicago attorney Luka Misetic, who claims to be Gotovina's legal
representative, on Thursday declined to say whether his client
intended to surrender to the Croatian authorities or the war crimes
tribunal in The Hague.
In line with the ICTY regulations, a trial in absentia is also
possible. Should the tribunal establish the indictee is guilty of
crimes listed in the indictment, the Trial Chamber can pass a
decision and issue an international arrest warrant, which will then
be forwarded to all countries.
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