ASSOCIATION: HAGUE TRIBUNAL WANTS TO CRIMINALISE HOMELAND WAR

ZAGREB, Aug 2 (Hina) - The association for the protection of Homeland War values HONOS on Wednesday issued a statement on media claims that general Petar Stipetic could be accused of alleged war crimes against Serb civilians during the Croatian military and police Operation 'Storm'. The association says it has obtained information also from other sources that such an indictment may actually be issued. Stressing that this would lead to the further criminalisation of the Homeland War, HONOS reminds that information on investigations by the Hague tribunal against a number of war commanders and generals, not only regarding 'Storm' but other Croatian army liberation operations, has been provided by different sources. The association believes that the primary interest of the Hague tribunal and those standing behind similar actions is not the individualisation of possible guilt and the punishment of individual crimes but the criminalisation of the Homeland War and the foundations of independent and sovereign Croatian state. Stressing that there is no war without civil victims, to which the NATO operation in Kosovo and Serbia bore proof, the association calls on all political forces as well as Homeland War associations and civil institutions to protect the values of the Homeland War, stop its criminalisation and reach a national consensus on this issue. (hina) rml