ZAGREB, Dec 13 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Wednesday night's news conference dismissed a statement given by the international war crimes tribunal deputy prosecutor Graham Blewitt. Blewitt said today Croatian
authorities had been notified about the names of persons against whom the Hague-based Tribunal was conducting investigations for crimes they had allegedly committed during the 1995 "Storm" liberation operation. "The Croatian Government has received no information from the Tribunal's prosecution about the names of the persons against whom the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the ex-Yugoslavia) was carrying out an investigation connected with crimes committed in Croatia or possible indictments, despite the fact that it had been established this cooperation be carried out exclusively via the Government, in line with the Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the ICTY," Racan told
ZAGREB, Dec 13 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on
Wednesday night's news conference dismissed a statement given by
the international war crimes tribunal deputy prosecutor Graham
Blewitt.
Blewitt said today Croatian authorities had been notified about the
names of persons against whom the Hague-based Tribunal was
conducting investigations for crimes they had allegedly committed
during the 1995 "Storm" liberation operation.
"The Croatian Government has received no information from the
Tribunal's prosecution about the names of the persons against whom
the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the ex-Yugoslavia)
was carrying out an investigation connected with crimes committed
in Croatia or possible indictments, despite the fact that it had
been established this cooperation be carried out exclusively via
the Government, in line with the Constitutional Law on Cooperation
with the ICTY," Racan told reporters following a meeting among six
parties of the ruling coalition which focused on relations between
The Hague and Croatia.
"The Croatian Government remains resolute in its intention to,
either alone or with the cooperation of the Tribunal in The Hague,
investigate all war crimes committed in Croatia, because it is
determined Croatia would not be hostage to unresolved war crimes in
our recent history," he asserted.
Expressing disappointment with some other Blewitt's statements,
Racan said he hoped "they do not represent the official views of the
Hague Tribunal".
The Government, he said, "wished and still does wish to, with the
cooperation of the ICTY, solve all existing obstacles to
cooperation with The Hague".
The Government will not carry out a policy which has contributed to
the isolation of Croatia, Racan was adamant.
Racan informed reporters he had spoken with Croatian President
Stipe Mesic about the issue. He mentioned media reports citing
Mesic critically commenting on the Government and ministers for
their attitude towards the ICTY.
"President Mesic resolutely said that in his today's statements on
the cooperation between Croatia and The Hague he had not mentioned
the Government nor ministers," Racan asserted.
"The Government will decisively carry out its policy on cooperation
with the Tribunal in The Hague, maintaining and respecting its own
stances and conclusions on the cooperation," he concluded.
(hina) lml