CROATIA NEEDS PARTNERSHIP RELATIONS WITH THE HAGUE -- PICULA

ZAGREB, April 13 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said Thursday the obstruction of Croatia's relations with the Hague-Based international war crimes tribunal hitherto must be eliminated and partnership relations established instead. "This is one of the goals of the Declaration," Picula told reporters commenting on a draft declaration on cooperation with the international tribunal the Government had forwarded to the parliament on Thursday. He added the draft declaration was a political obligation for Croatia. Picula refuted a criticism by the opposition Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) that the ruling coalition was in a hurry to have the declaration adopted, asserting the adoption was "several days late". He recalled last month's pledge made by the Government at an extended session of the Parliament's Internal Affairs and National Security Committee that it would draw up a programme on Croatia's cooperation with the International Criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) which three weeks. This deadline had been overstepped by several days. Picula said the declaration did "not fog out indisputable facts about the Homeland War", but was an "attempt to separate the good and heroism from evil and crime". Picula explained the declaration insisted on individual blame for war crimes, and commented on the weaknesses of the Tribunal. "With the declaration the Croatia suggests some improvements in the work of the Tribunal, and is taking an active approach," Picula told reporters. (hina) lml jn