CRO GOVERNMENT DRAFTS DECLARATION ON COOPERATION WITH ICTY

ZAGREB, April 13 (Hina) - Crime is individual and the punishment of individual crimes that tarnish the reputation of the Homeland War is in the interest of Croatia. This is a basic idea of a draft declaration the Croatian Government on Thursday proposed for the cooperation with the International War Crimes Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Reporters were not informed either of the text or some details from the Government's discussion on this matter during Thursday's session. According to some sources, the Government is to forward today this declaration to the Croatian National Parliament to consider it. Prime Minister Ivica Racan said the purpose of the declaration was to show clearly the Government's orientation towards the protection of values of the Homeland War and the dignity of Croatian soldiers. This has been done in order to prevent attempts to dent the reputation of that war and make it impossible for concealing some war crimes and their perpetrators. We must remove any collective guilt and separate the Homeland War from what was done by some individuals, I do not know in whose name and in whose interest, Croatia's First Deputy Prime Minister, Goran Granic added. (hina) mm ms