ZAGREB, April 21 (Hina) - The Croatian Navy's (HRM) Association of Homeland War Volunteers on Friday said in a statement it did not condone protest meetings against the Declaration on Cooperation with the International Criminal
Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), but it also requested that war crimes suspects be tried by Croatian courts and not necessarily by the Hague tribunal. According to the statement, meetings organised by some veterans' groups against the adoption of the Declaration on Cooperation with the ICTY are unnecessary. The Association also estimates that some individuals, by making statements which include threats regarding armed rebellion, are trying to manipulate one part of soldiers to the benefit of some parties and their policy. They are supported in their attempts by some soldiers' associations whose leaders are members of those parties, said the statement, signed by the Associati
ZAGREB, April 21 (Hina) - The Croatian Navy's (HRM) Association of
Homeland War Volunteers on Friday said in a statement it did not
condone protest meetings against the Declaration on Cooperation
with the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia
(ICTY), but it also requested that war crimes suspects be tried by
Croatian courts and not necessarily by the Hague tribunal.
According to the statement, meetings organised by some veterans'
groups against the adoption of the Declaration on Cooperation with
the ICTY are unnecessary.
The Association also estimates that some individuals, by making
statements which include threats regarding armed rebellion, are
trying to manipulate one part of soldiers to the benefit of some
parties and their policy. They are supported in their attempts by
some soldiers' associations whose leaders are members of those
parties, said the statement, signed by the Association's president
and retired fleet admiral Sveto Letica.
The incumbent government must respect obligations which the former
authorities took over before the international community in the
form of the Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the ICTY. This is
the only way to protect the dignity of the Homeland War and the
honour of Homeland War soldiers, the statement read.
The Association also requested the government to reach an agreement
with the Hague tribunal so that all investigations into possible
war crimes be conducted by Croatian judicial bodies, in the
presence of Hague investigators, as well as that war crimes
suspects be tried by Croatian courts and not necessarily by the
Hague tribunal.
(hina) jn rml