ZAGREB, Nov 9 (Hina) - The defence attorneys of an ICTY indictee, retired Croatian Army general Ante Gotovina, said on Friday they have not had contacts with their client for over four months, and were neither able to confirm nor deny
the statement of Croatian First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic that Gotovina had most probably escaped from Croatia. One of Gotovina's attorneys, Marijan Pedisic, told Hina he had no information of Gotovina's whereabouts and stressed the lawyers' team had not had contacts with him since June 21. On that date, the lawyers received Gotovina's authorisation to legally represent him before the Zagreb County Court, authorised for Gotovina's extradition to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Pedisic said it was logical that Granic, as Deputy Prime Minister, had more information on Gotovina's whereabouts than his attorneys. Commenting
ZAGREB, Nov 9 (Hina) - The defence attorneys of an ICTY indictee,
retired Croatian Army general Ante Gotovina, said on Friday they
have not had contacts with their client for over four months, and
were neither able to confirm nor deny the statement of Croatian
First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic that Gotovina had most
probably escaped from Croatia.
One of Gotovina's attorneys, Marijan Pedisic, told Hina he had no
information of Gotovina's whereabouts and stressed the lawyers'
team had not had contacts with him since June 21. On that date, the
lawyers received Gotovina's authorisation to legally represent him
before the Zagreb County Court, authorised for Gotovina's
extradition to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY).
Pedisic said it was logical that Granic, as Deputy Prime Minister,
had more information on Gotovina's whereabouts than his
attorneys.
Commenting on Granic's statement in today's issue of the daily
"Jutarnji List" that the government cannot be held responsible for
Gotovina's escape, Pedesic said this statement shows the
government's concern and fear of the ICTY and international
community's reactions, while on the other hand the government had
neglected Gotovina's interests by its one-sided approach.
He reminded the government had refused to forward documents on the
military and police operation "Storm", which it had previously
forwarded to the Hague-based tribunal, thus violating the
Constitution and the Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the
ICTY.
Attorney Ante Vukorepa also said the lawyers' team had no
information on Gotovina's whereabouts. "We can neither confirm nor
deny Granic's statement that Gotovina has escaped from Croatia," he
said.
The Interior Ministry refused to comment on Granic statement that
according to an investigation conducted by the ministry, Gotovina
was most probably no longer in the country.
"We cannot comment on statements by the deputy prime minister,"
spokeswoman for the ministry Zinka Bardic briefly told the press.
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