ZAGREB, Feb 2 (Hina) - Croatia should continue to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), but must be firm in protecting its interests, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said at
Tuesday's session of the Croatian Parliament's House of Counties. Granic submitted to the Upper House a report on Croatia's cooperation with the ICTY. He stressed it was Croatia's goal to be a part of European and Euro-Atlantic associations, and never again a part of Balkan, south Slavic states. "Cooperation with the international criminal tribunal is definitely one of the preconditions for Croatia to become (a part of Euro-Atlantic associations). However, it is our prerogative to openly point out all the Tribunal's mistakes and inconsistencies," Granic said. He added cooperation must be such as to never cross the boundaries of dignity of the state. Granic counted Croatia's five basic
ZAGREB, Feb 2 (Hina) - Croatia should continue to cooperate with the
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY),
but must be firm in protecting its interests, Croatian Foreign
Minister Mate Granic said at Tuesday's session of the Croatian
Parliament's House of Counties.
Granic submitted to the Upper House a report on Croatia's
cooperation with the ICTY.
He stressed it was Croatia's goal to be a part of European and Euro-
Atlantic associations, and never again a part of Balkan, south
Slavic states.
"Cooperation with the international criminal tribunal is
definitely one of the preconditions for Croatia to become (a part of
Euro-Atlantic associations). However, it is our prerogative to
openly point out all the Tribunal's mistakes and inconsistencies,"
Granic said.
He added cooperation must be such as to never cross the boundaries
of dignity of the state.
Granic counted Croatia's five basic criticisms about the work of
the Hague Tribunal.
The first is that investigations into crimes committed during the
war and aggression on Croatia (Dubrovnik, Sibenik, Osijek, Celije
and other towns).
The second is that indictments have not been issued for war crimes
committed against Croats in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina
(Uzdol, Grabovica, Doljani and other locations).
Furthermore, the Tribunal is starting trials slowly and is slowly
carrying out procedures against Croats from Bosnia-Herzegovina
detained in The Hague.
Croatia is also dissatisfied with the creation of an atmosphere of
insecurity with threats regarding the operation "Storm" with which
most parts of Croatia occupied by the Serbs since 1991 had been
liberated in 1995.
The fifth criticism is that the ICTY had not managed to apprehend
the officers of the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) indicted of
crimes in Vukovar in 1991 (Mrksic, Radic, Sljivancanin) and the
leader of Croatian Serb rebels, Milan Martic, who ordered the
rocketing of Zagreb on 1995.
Speaking about the criticisms, Granic recalled that only two
indictments have been issued regarding crimes committed against
Croats in Croatia (one against Mrksic, Radic and Sljivancanin and
one against Martic).
Croatia applauds the efforts of the international community
regarding the arrest of the "Vukovar Trio" and most energetically
requests the extradition of Martic.
The crime of the three from Vukovar is a serious obstacle to the
process of return of displaced persons to Vukovar, Granic said.
It is concerning that nobody has been accused of crimes against
Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina (in Buhine Kuce, Krizancevo Selo),
and the process in the Grabovica case has been given to the justice
organs of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Granic stressed.
Granic pointed out as the second group of problems the legal
standards in the work of the Tribunal, including sub poenas.
He expressed doubt about the consistency of criteria in the
sentence of Croat Ante Furundzija (sentenced to ten years in
prison).
"The process led under the principle of Anglo Saxon law with the
indictments being insufficiently prepared is the main cause of the
length of the procedure," Granic said.
He expressed concern and dissatisfaction of Croatia caused by
rumours about the possible processing of several Croatian generals
and state officials responsible for carrying out the "Storm"
operation.
"Storm" was a legitimate military and police operation, and its
implementation created conditions for resolving the crisis and war
in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Granic recalled.
He added the Croatian justice system had been insufficiently
determined and resolute in processing crimes committed after the
operation, which decreased Croatia's credibility and
international position.
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