ZAGREB, Dec 21 (Hina) - Until the prosecution at the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague explains why it sent a summons to General Stipetic (Croatian Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff) to appear before the tribunal as a witness,
and then as a suspect, he will certainly not testify, Croatian Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic told Thursday's news conference. Describing the Tribunal's request as a whim, Ivanisevic said the Croatian government authority advocates partnership relations with the tribunal, but added the relations could not be such as "The Hague dictating and we obey". "This might apply to Rwanda, but certainly not for Croatia, because even we can raise a havoc if necessary," he stressed. Relations with the Hague tribunal should be built on mutual communication which has not been achieved so far, which, in turn, resulted in cold relations, Ivanisevic said. In reply to a reporter
ZAGREB, Dec 21 (Hina) - Until the prosecution at the international
war crimes tribunal in The Hague explains why it sent a summons to
General Stipetic (Croatian Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff) to appear
before the tribunal as a witness, and then as a suspect, he will
certainly not testify, Croatian Justice Minister Stjepan
Ivanisevic told Thursday's news conference.
Describing the Tribunal's request as a whim, Ivanisevic said the
Croatian government authority advocates partnership relations
with the tribunal, but added the relations could not be such as "The
Hague dictating and we obey".
"This might apply to Rwanda, but certainly not for Croatia, because
even we can raise a havoc if necessary," he stressed.
Relations with the Hague tribunal should be built on mutual
communication which has not been achieved so far, which, in turn,
resulted in cold relations, Ivanisevic said.
In reply to a reporter's question, Ivanisevic explained the
tribunal could punish the editor in chief of the Croatian daily
"Slobodna Dalmacija" for contempt of court, that is, for publishing
a transcript of a closed testimony by President Stipe Mesic before
the tribunal.
The Hague can punish Josip Jovic with a fine or prison sentence, but
cannot call him as an indictee as the curt is only processing war
crimes, Ivanisevic said.
(hina) lml