PRESIDENT'S OFFICE ISSUES DENIAL OF CLAIMS BY MIROSLAV TUDJMAN

PRESIDENT'S OFFICE ISSUES DENIAL OF CLAIMS BY MIROSLAV TUDJMAN ZAGREB, Oct 6 (Hina) - The Office of the Croatian President on Friday issued a denial regarding an interview with Miroslav Tudjman, the son of late Croatian president Franjo Tudjman, published in Friday's issue of 'Nedjeljna Dalmacija' daily, saying the daily printed "notorious untruths." "The President of the Republic has never stated that the Homeland War was a war of conquest and not a defence war, but he clearly stated that Serbia had carried out aggression on Croatia and that culprits have to answer for war crimes that were committed," read the denial forwarded to the daily. The statement that President Mesic was a witness for the prosecution in the trial of (general) Blaskic is also a common lie, the Office said, adding President Mesic was a witness for the prosecution in the Slavko Dokmanovic trial. The Office also reminds that President Mesic has the obligation to keep secret all statements given to The Hague war crimes tribunal, but general Blaskic has no such obligation and can therefore say the truth regarding President Mesic's statements before The Hague tribunal. "Only after Blaskic makes the statement can Mr. Tudjman present the truth to the public, if the truth is what he is interested in. However, Miroslav Tudjman is very well aware of this and finds it easier to use untruths and imputations since that is obviously his way of communicating," the denial read. "It is Mr. Tudjman's legitimate right to promote himself and launch a campaign, to gather or not to gather money in the Diaspora, but it is inadmissible that someone boasting a PhD degree is using lies to attack his political opponents," read the denial, signed by the head of the Information Department, Vjera Suman. In his interview with the daily, Miroslav Tudjman claimed that President Mesic had been a witness for the prosecution in the Blaskic case and that he told the Yugoslav media that the Homeland War had been a war for Great Croatia. (hina) rml