CRO WAR VETERANS ASK GOVT TO CEASE COOPERATING WITH HAGUE

ZAGREB, Jan 15 (Hina) - The alliance of county associations of Croatian Homeland War Veterans (HVIDRA) on Friday requested Croatian authorities to completely cease cooperating with the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague and to stop handing over Croatian army commanders to the tribunal. Speaking at today's press conference in Zagreb, HVIDRA representatives also called on citizens to disobey and deny hospitality to the international Stabilisation Force (SFOR). "The hand-over, or rather the voluntary departure of Croat military commanders from Bosnia-Herzegovina to The Hague is only a method of feeling pulse for the extradition of generals from Croatia", HVIDRA president Marinko Liovic said. He added that HVIDRA members were "ready to physically prevent further extradition if possible". The majority of detainees in The Hague are Croatian citizens, which "creates an impression that Croats were the only criminals and executioners during the war in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, while the actual criminals are in Belgrade, Liovic said. He announced a visit to detained Croatian soldiers in The Hague in mid February, as a sign of support for them and protest against the international community. Liovic called on the Croatian Government and Parliament to appropriately prevent "the arrogant behaviour of SFOR individuals and units towards Croatian citizens, as well as Carlos Westendorp from venting his anger on Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina". (hina) rml