BELGRADE: DORIS PACK ASKS FOR EXTRADITION OF VUKOVAR THREE

BELGRADE, Dec 3 (Hina) - Three former Yugoslav Army (JNA) officers, indicted for war crimes committed in Vukovar, Croatia in 1991, must be extradited to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, Doris Pack, who heads the European Parliament's delegation for relations with Southeast Europe, said in Belgrade Monday. After talks with Serbian Deputy Premiers Zarko Korac and Nebojsa Covic, Pack said the three of them concluded something needed to be done regarding the three officers who committed crimes in Vukovar - Veselin Sljivancanin, Mile Mrksic and Miroslav Radic. She reiterated they had to be extradited to the Hague tribunal, and estimated their surrender would contribute to improving relations between Croatia and Yugoslavia, building trust and enabling the return of Serb refugees. Pack added that no requirements or deadlines had been set for the extradition of the so-called "Vukovar Three", but emphasised that was a necessary path Yugoslavia must take in order to integrate into Europe. Pack said she would discuss the "Vukovar Three" case with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica on Tuesday because he is in charge of the army. Korac said that Yugoslavia could not avoid the cooperation with the ICTY, especially considering the gravity of the crimes committed by the "Vukovar Three". He added that Yugoslavia had committed to cooperate with the tribunal, and that it was its duty to either bring people who were indicted for serious crimes to justice or extradite them to The Hague. This duty cannot be avoided, Korac said. (hina) np sb