ZAGREB, July 7 (Hina) - The first two witnesses, employees of the Croatian Intelligence Service (HIS), on Wednesday testified at the Zagreb County in the investigative proceedings against former HIS principle Miroslav Separovic and
Mario Baljkas. Baljkas, the head of the HIS analysis department was suspended from his duties and both have been charged with releasing confidential (top secret) material. Stribor Kikerec, who recently resigned from the post of assistant principle at HIS and HIS emplyoee, Stipe Zrilic spent almost three hours before investigative judge Zdenko Konjic. The two spoke in detail about the circulation and procedural steps applied to confidential HIS documents. The witnesses described how documents were received by HIS, how they were processed, filed and distributed, which regulations applied to these procedures and who had access to such documents, or rather, whether th
ZAGREB, July 7 (Hina) - The first two witnesses, employees of the
Croatian Intelligence Service (HIS), on Wednesday testified at the
Zagreb County in the investigative proceedings against former HIS
principle Miroslav Separovic and Mario Baljkas. Baljkas, the head
of the HIS analysis department was suspended from his duties and
both have been charged with releasing confidential (top secret)
material.
Stribor Kikerec, who recently resigned from the post of assistant
principle at HIS and HIS emplyoee, Stipe Zrilic spent almost three
hours before investigative judge Zdenko Konjic. The two spoke in
detail about the circulation and procedural steps applied to
confidential HIS documents.
The witnesses described how documents were received by HIS, how
they were processed, filed and distributed, which regulations
applied to these procedures and who had access to such documents, or
rather, whether these documents could end up with unauthorised
personnel.
Separovic and Baljkas who were present at the proceedings in the
company of their attorneys, stated after the procedure that they
were satisfied with the testimonies given today.
Noting that the accused utilised their right to question the
witnesses, Separovic emphasised that the witnesses explicitly
answered to all vital issues which will resolve this case.
"We have come that much closer to determining the truth", claimed
Separovic, adding that he had prepared quite a number of questions
to put to former HIS principle Tomislav Druzak, who is scheduled to
testify on Friday July 9.
Commenting on a statement made by the Croatian Democratic Union's
(HDZ) spokesman Ivica Ropus that "Separovic is conducting a
political show which has overstepped the boundaries of good taste",
Separovic said that it is well known who started the political show
and to what aim.
"I remain with my initial claim that the entire incident was
initiated by Ivic Pasalic", Separovic said, adding that "each day,
I am coming across further evidence to prove this".
Separovic expressed his regret that the HDZ, of which he was still a
member, did not support the idea to set up an inquiry commission
which would investigate the activities of secret services.
Separovic stressed that he resigned from his post as the principle
of HIS because of the unsatisfactory status of the intelligence
community and not as part of an inter party show down which, as he
claims, he has not taken any part in.
Separovic and Baljkas expect that once all witnesses have testified
that the charges against them will be dropped.
Investigative proceedings are expected to continue tomorrow when
two other HIS employees should testify.
(hina) sp