HDZ: THERE WILL BE NO DISCONTINUATION OF COOPERATION WITH ICTY

ZAGREB, Jan 15 (Hina) - Cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) will not be discontinued but certain conditions will be presented to the Tribunal, including maximum acceleration of the ongoing trials against Bosnian Croats, Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) spokesman Ivica Ropus told reporters on Friday. Ropus expressed surprise with the recent statement of ICTY chief prosecutor Louise Arbour that cooperation between Croatia and her office has never been satisfactory. "At the same time, we are willing to believe her statement that there is no basis in the prosecution structures for indictments against Croatian generals", he added. The party believes that Croatia's relations with The Hague are fully cooperative and is dissatisfied with the way "blame for the war is being distributed among the three entities in the former Yugoslavia". The Croatian National Sabor will at the end of January conduct a comprehensive discussion on Croatia's cooperation with The Hague Tribunal, Ropus said adding he hoped all parliamentary parties would reach a consensus on that important political question. (hina) mm rml