ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - Croatia on Friday issued a protest note to the Yugoslav ambassador in the wake of the confiscation of two Croatian trucks which had been delivering humanitarian aid to Montenegro, demanding that Yugoslav
authorities return the trucks, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Croatian Assistant Foreign Minister Josko Paro handed the harsh protest note to Yugoslav Ambassador Veljko Knezevic and harshly criticised Knezevic's statements to the press on May 19. According to Paro, Knezevic "made incorrect and completely unacceptable statements with regard to the character of the aggression against Croatia, and with no arguments and incorrectly commented on Croatian government standpoints, which is in complete contrast to the rights established by the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations." Knezevic had told reporters that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had
ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - Croatia on Friday issued a protest note to
the Yugoslav ambassador in the wake of the confiscation of two
Croatian trucks which had been delivering humanitarian aid to
Montenegro, demanding that Yugoslav authorities return the trucks,
the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Croatian Assistant Foreign Minister Josko Paro handed the harsh
protest note to Yugoslav Ambassador Veljko Knezevic and harshly
criticised Knezevic's statements to the press on May 19.
According to Paro, Knezevic "made incorrect and completely
unacceptable statements with regard to the character of the
aggression against Croatia, and with no arguments and incorrectly
commented on Croatian government standpoints, which is in complete
contrast to the rights established by the Vienna convention on
diplomatic relations."
Knezevic had told reporters that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
had never made an aggression on Croatia, and that what happened in
Croatia earlier this decade was a "civil war". He had also said that
he was "exasperated" by the fact that Croatia, like other countries
neighbouring Yugoslavia, had rushed to assist NATO in its
aggression against Yugoslavia.
Paro expressed the Foreign Ministry's and government's deep
dissatisfaction with the announced three-month extension of
detention for Croat journalist Ante Masle, imprisoned in
Montenegro.
He also pointed out that Croatia saw the extension as unacceptable
and inappropriate to democratic standards, adding Croatia expected
the journalist will be released as soon as possible.
Paro reiterated his request to the Yugoslav ambassador to urge
Yugoslavia to take steps to resolve the Masle issue as soon as
possible.
Paro told the ambassador Croatia had notified all relevant
organisations about the Masle arrest, including the UN Security
Council, the Council of Europe, the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe, requesting them to assist in the journalist's release.
Croatia will pursue activities to that end, Paro said.
(hina) ha