PRESIDENT MESIC HOLDS TALKS WITH ICTY PROSECUTOR DEL PONTE

ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - The first meeting between Croatian President Stipe Mesic and the chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Carla del Ponte, held in Zagreb on Tuesday, confirmed that Croatia was ready to cooperate with the ICTY. Mesic and del Ponte declined to reveal details of their talks to reporters, including on whether they tackled the responsibility of Croatian generals for crimes committed in Croatia. "Croatia wants to cooperate because we want guilt to be individualised and collective responsibility to stop", President Mesic said after the talks, adding that the Tribunal must conduct its part of the job. The ICTY Prosecutor positively assessed the talks with the Croatian President at which future programmes were discussed. She welcomed Mesic's attitude on the necessity for individual guilt, adding that the Prosecution tried to bring all persons responsible for what happened in Croatia to justice. Del Ponte on Wednesday is scheduled to meet members of the Croatian Government, headed by Prime Minister Ivica Racan. Members of the Croatian Government should present del Ponte with Croatia's new strategy for cooperation with the ICTY. (hina) it