THREE ICTY JUDGES SAY VISIT TO ZAGREB SIGNIFICANT

THE HAGUE, Sept 22 (Hina) - Three judges with UN's international war crimes tribunal in The Hague assessed a recent visit to Croatia as a significant step forward in advancing relations between the tribunal and Croatia, a tribunal statement said on Friday. Judges Almiro Rodrigues, Fouad Riad, and Patricia Wald stayed in Zagreb September 19-21, meeting Croatian Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic, Croatian judges in the highest judicial bodies, local courts, state prosecutors, officials of the Croatian Bar Association, professors and students at the Zagreb Law Faculty, and representatives of a variety of international organisations. "The Judges consider these three enriching days as a first step towards achieving the best possible relationship of mutual understanding, trust and cooperation between the Tribunal and the authorities of Croatia," said the statement. It added the meetings were "characterised by open exchanges that covered a wide range of issues." The issues discussed covered procedural matters and the substance of the law applied by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. (hina) ha