RETIRED GENERAL,WAR CRIMES INDICTEE, MADE HONORARY ZADAR RESIDENT

ZADAR, Nov 22 (Hina) - The Zadar City Council at Thursday's session pronounced retired General Ante Gotovina honorary resident of Zadar, at the suggestion of Council chairman, Davor Aras (Croatian Social Liberal Party) and supported by most of the Croatian Democratic Union councillors. Councillors of the Social Democratic Party suggested before the vote that the decision on making Gotovina honorary Zadar resident be postponed, not disputing the general's great merits in Croatia's Homeland Defence War. Their suggestion, however, was dismissed. In explaining the decision, councillors said that it was made because of Gotovina's exceptional merits in the defence of the homeland and Zadar. Aras said that despite the fact that Croatia had won the war, the Homeland War was being demonised, and the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague which has been supported by the Croatian government, is persecuting Homeland War heroes and is doing the same to General Gotovina on command responsibility. "Sticking to the principle that there were no crimes under command responsibility in the Homeland War, and because of Gotovina's great merits ion the defence of the homeland and Zadar, I suggest to the City Council to pronounce Ante Gotovina honorary resident of Zadar," Aras said. (hina) lml sb