VUKOVAR, April 12 (Hina) - Commenting on requests by Croatian Homeland War associations on reconsidering cooperation with The Hague-based international war crimes tribunal, the Minister of Croatian Homeland War Soldiers, Ivica Pancic,
told Hina on Wednesday cooperation with the Tribunal should be "reinvestigated to make it more successful and to discover and convict criminals as soon as possible." "It would be extremely irresponsible to violate the provisions of that law (on cooperation with the Tribunal). It must be implemented, with respect for Croatian laws," Pancic said, adding that "crimes which might have been committed have no connection with the Homeland War, just as the Homeland War must not be used as an excuse for persons who may have committed those crimes." In his statement to Hina, Pancic was commenting on requests by Homeland War associations from the central Croatian town of Gospic and the v
VUKOVAR, April 12 (Hina) - Commenting on requests by Croatian
Homeland War associations on reconsidering cooperation with The
Hague-based international war crimes tribunal, the Minister of
Croatian Homeland War Soldiers, Ivica Pancic, told Hina on
Wednesday cooperation with the Tribunal should be "reinvestigated
to make it more successful and to discover and convict criminals as
soon as possible."
"It would be extremely irresponsible to violate the provisions of
that law (on cooperation with the Tribunal). It must be
implemented, with respect for Croatian laws," Pancic said, adding
that "crimes which might have been committed have no connection
with the Homeland War, just as the Homeland War must not be used as
an excuse for persons who may have committed those crimes."
In his statement to Hina, Pancic was commenting on requests by
Homeland War associations from the central Croatian town of Gospic
and the views of the Alliance of County Associations of Homeland War
Invalids (HVIDRA), presented at a new conference in Zagreb today.
The associations from Gospic and the HVIDRA protested the announced
exhumations in the Gospic area, which are soon to be carried out by
investigators from The Hague. The associations demand that a debate
on the Homeland War be opened at the Croatian National Sabor, as
well as that the "criminalisation" of Croatian soldiers be stopped
and that Croatia's relations with the Tribunal be reconsidered.
"Croatia must be interested in cooperation with the Tribunal if
only because of Vukovar and the punishment of other crimes
committed during the Serbian aggression. The Homeland War and its
values are unquestionable and we will do all to protect the
reputation of true Croatian soldiers," Pancic said.
(hina) jn rml