ZAGREB, May 27 (Hina) - Croatian Justice Minister Zvonimir Separovic and the head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Croatia, Tim Guldimann, on Thursday held talks which tackled the situation
in the judiciary and in the Danube River Region of eastern Croatia. "Croatia wants to try those against whom it has evidence indicating that they committed war crimes, and we also agreed to have OSCE representatives participate in court hearings held (in such cases)," Separovic told reporters after the talks, pointing out court hearings in Croatia were public. Speaking of frequent remarks to the Croatian judiciary coming from Europe, the justice minister said, "Croatia wants to strengthen the judiciary's function, and approach European standards, both on the legislative plan and in the application of laws, and we will also try to step up court proceedings." "A new
ZAGREB, May 27 (Hina) - Croatian Justice Minister Zvonimir
Separovic and the head of the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Croatia, Tim Guldimann, on
Thursday held talks which tackled the situation in the judiciary
and in the Danube River Region of eastern Croatia.
"Croatia wants to try those against whom it has evidence indicating
that they committed war crimes, and we also agreed to have OSCE
representatives participate in court hearings held (in such
cases)," Separovic told reporters after the talks, pointing out
court hearings in Croatia were public.
Speaking of frequent remarks to the Croatian judiciary coming from
Europe, the justice minister said, "Croatia wants to strengthen the
judiciary's function, and approach European standards, both on the
legislative plan and in the application of laws, and we will also
try to step up court proceedings."
"A new law is being prepared, it should be adopted soon, and it is
aimed at stepping up court proceedings," Separovic said.
OSCE's Guldimann said the OSCE believes all war criminals must be
brought to justice and that it has agreements signed in that
respect. One of these agreements refers to the initiation of court
proceedings against 25 persons against whom there is evidence that
they committed war crimes.
If new evidence appears, it is possible new proceedings will be
initiated, Guldimann said.
He added all relevant data must be submitted to The Hague
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY),
in keeping with procedures agreed on with the tribunal and the
international community.
The OSCE wants to participate in these court proceedings as
observer, Guldimann said, pointing out the OSCE enjoyed excellent
cooperation with some courts, but sometimes encountered
difficulties as well.
Guldimann said he hopes the problem will be solved by clear Justice
Ministry instructions to the effect of enabling the OSCE to attend
the trials.
Separovic and Guldimann also tackled the situation in eastern
Croatia, with special emphasis on the village of Berak, where Croat
returnees have been protesting for several weeks after mass graves
with Croat victims of the Serbian aggression were discovered.
According to Guldimann, the situation in eastern Croatia has become
politically delicate. The OSCE hopes the establishment of trust
will be pursued, as Minister Separovic has promised.
(hina) ha