ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - "To say that crimes were committed by the Croatian army (HV), is not true," General Imra Agotic was quoted by the "Vecernji List" daily as saying in his comments on investigations launched by the ICTY
(International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia). "There could be only incidents if somebody dressed in the HV uniforms committed an act which may be labelled as a war crime," Gen. Agotic, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic's advisor on defence and military matter, said in his interview in Saturday's issue of the daily. One should not forget that after exceptionally brief military operations, in the liberated areas came the military police, who were inside the competence of the Defence Ministry (but today nobody from that ministry is singled out), police and bodies of local authorities set up by the Zagreb central authorities and it was their t
ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - "To say that crimes were committed by the
Croatian army (HV), is not true," General Imra Agotic was quoted by
the "Vecernji List" daily as saying in his comments on
investigations launched by the ICTY (International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia).
"There could be only incidents if somebody dressed in the HV
uniforms committed an act which may be labelled as a war crime,"
Gen. Agotic, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic's advisor on defence
and military matter, said in his interview in Saturday's issue of
the daily.
One should not forget that after exceptionally brief military
operations, in the liberated areas came the military police, who
were inside the competence of the Defence Ministry (but today
nobody from that ministry is singled out), police and bodies of
local authorities set up by the Zagreb central authorities and it
was their task to control the situation in the areas in question.
And just in that period most crimes were committed, the general
asserted.
"Therefore we cannot suspect commanders of certain actions,
sectors and brigades, as in this way all officers and soldiers
engaged in the operation could be accused," he added.
Asked about issues in relation to the ICTY's summons to General
Petar Stipetic, the incumbent Croatian Armed Forces chief-of-
staff, Agotic said Gen. Stipetic was a professional and key person
who "can help clarify all things."
He now needs expert and legal aid in order to prepare everything for
the defence of Croatia in The Hague as well, Agotic stressed.
(hina) ms