ZAGREB, Aug 11 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic said on Friday he saw no reason for the Croatian National Sabor to investigate 'the Stipetic case'. "I don't see a single reason why the Croatian National Sabor should convene a
session because of that," Mesic told reporters at Zagreb airport upon his arrival from the United States. 'Globus' weekly reported last week the Chief Prosecutor of the Hague war crimes tribunal, Carla del Ponte, had informed Mesic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan, during her last visit to Zagreb, that the tribunal was conducting an investigation against the Croatian Armed Forces' Chief-of-Staff General Petar Stipetic, which the two officials denied. "General Stipetic was never mentioned," Mesic said today, adding there would always be media speculations. After the 'Stipetic case' became topical, the president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Drazen Budisa, who d
ZAGREB, Aug 11 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic said on
Friday he saw no reason for the Croatian National Sabor to
investigate 'the Stipetic case'.
"I don't see a single reason why the Croatian National Sabor should
convene a session because of that," Mesic told reporters at Zagreb
airport upon his arrival from the United States.
'Globus' weekly reported last week the Chief Prosecutor of the
Hague war crimes tribunal, Carla del Ponte, had informed Mesic and
Prime Minister Ivica Racan, during her last visit to Zagreb, that
the tribunal was conducting an investigation against the Croatian
Armed Forces' Chief-of-Staff General Petar Stipetic, which the two
officials denied.
"General Stipetic was never mentioned," Mesic said today, adding
there would always be media speculations.
After the 'Stipetic case' became topical, the president of the
Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Drazen Budisa, who did not
attend the talks in question, issued a statement claiming that
general Stipetic had been mentioned at the talks between del Ponte
and the Croatian state leaders.
Sabor Speaker Zlatko Tomcic yesterday suggested that the issue be
resolved at a meeting of the state leadership, and, if necessary,
that issues regarding the Hague war crimes tribunal be discussed at
a parliamentary session.
Tomcic was among the state officials who today welcomed Mesic and
who listened to the new conference.
Answering several questions on the Stipetic case, Mesic said that
topic had not been discussed at the Washington talks.
Asked whether he would meet Budisa to clarify who was telling the
truth, Mesic said, "There is no point in discussing it... with all
due respect to Mr Budisa."
Mesic refused to comment on the news regarding the transfer of
general Mirko Norac, who has been mentioned in the media as one of
the persons the Hague tribunal was conducting an investigation
against, to a war school.
"I would not want to speculate," he said.
(hina) rml