KOLARIC: PREMIER RACAN HAS NO INFORMATION ON INVESTIGATION AGAINST GENERAL STIPETIC

ZAGREB, Aug 2 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan does not have any information about the Hague war crimes tribunal conducting an investigation against general Petar Stipetic, the head of the Croatian Armed Forces' Main Staff, Government spokeswoman Aleksandra Kolaric said in Zagreb on Wednesday. Croatia wants to cooperate with the Tribunal, Kolaric said, adding that in case of the alleged investigation against Stipetic, one should bear in mind the then political circumstances and the fact that the entire authority and the power to make decisions was in the hands of one man, President Franjo Tudjman. Asked what Croatia would do if the allegations on the investigation proved true, Kolaric said "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." The latest issue of 'Globus' weekly reports that the Hague tribunal is conducting an investigation against general Stipetic, because during the Croatian army and police operation 'Storm' he commanded military actions in the former U.N. Sector North, which included the areas of Banovina and Kordun. The weekly presents data from the July report of the Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO) saying 267 Serb civilians were killed or went missing in those areas during or immediately after Operation 'Storm'. General Stipetic today said he had performed his duties in an honourable and fair manner and had taken all measures to prevent the violation of international regulations and conventions. He expressed readiness to face the Hague tribunal if speculations about his being a suspect proved true. (hina) rml