ZAGREB, Dec 21 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Thursday the ruling six-party coalition was unanimous in supporting the government's policy and steps in connection with UN's war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
ZAGREB, Dec 21 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Thursday
the ruling six-party coalition was unanimous in supporting the
government's policy and steps in connection with UN's war crimes
tribunal in The Hague.#L#
Among the steps the coalition supports are talks with the
tribunal's chief prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, which have been
announced for January in Zagreb, when the government should clarify
contentious issues, Racan told reporters after today's meeting of
the coalition's party leaders.
Asked if the coalition might crack on the policy towards the
tribunal, something President Stipe Mesic conceded was a
possibility in an interview earlier today, Racan said: "I hope
not."
He stressed it would be bad if the democratic parties in the country
parted over that issue, the ruling coalition in particular.
The coalition partners have no strategic differences and are all in
agreement Croatia must not be a hostage to war crimes, which have to
be investigated and prosecuted either individually or in
cooperation with the Hague tribunal, said the prime minister.
The national interest is to settle all disputes through cooperation
with the tribunal, he stressed.
Asked to say if coalition partner Drazen Budisa's recent statements
had aggravated the government's position in connection with the
tribunal, Racan said Budisa "had his motives," but that as a prime
minister he could not allow himself to comment. He added Budisa had
not been the only one to make statements on the matter, and that too
much ado about the tribunal helped no one.
Budisa had told Vecernji list daily the Hague tribunal had summoned
the Croatian military chief-of-staff, general Petar Stipetic, for
an interview in a suspect's capacity.
(hina) ha