TUTA AND STELA CAN GO TO HAGUE ONLY AFTER PROCEEDINGS IN CROATIA HAVE BEEN COMPLETED - SEPAROVIC

ZAGREB, July 19 (Hina) - Croatia will hand over Mladen Naletilic Tuta and Vinko Martinovic Stela to The Hague only after court proceedings and extradition procedures which are being conducted against the two indictees in Croatia have been completed, whereas documents requested by The Hague Tribunal will be handed over only if that is not against Croatia's national interests, Croatian Justice Minister Zvonimir Separovic said in Zagreb on Monday. #L# Separovic today held talks with the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Louise Arbour, who is completing her tour of the region with a two- day visit to Zagreb. Arbour last week visited Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo. "Tuta and Stela are not going to The Hague. Proceedings and the extradition procedure, which has not been completed either, have to be completed before Croatian courts first", Separovic told reporters after meeting Arbour. The ICTY last year indicted Naletilic and Martinovic for war crimes committed in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Their departure for The Hague, Separovic believes, would not be in Croatia's national interest "at the moment", because it would mean Croatia's giving up its sovereignty over proceedings that are being conducted against Croatian citizens. The ICTY believes that its right in such cases stands above that of national courts. According to Separovic, Arbour has reiterated her request that Croatia hand over documents necessary for the investigation of Croatia's police and army operation "Storm", and the 'Pakracka poljana' and 'Medacki dzep' cases. Croatia still believes that Operation "Storm" does not fall under the jurisdiction of The Hague Tribunal, Separovic said. "Mrs Arbour thinks differently", he said, adding he expected she would take more decisive measures. "She announced she would present (Croatia's) stand to the Tribunal President, who could then inform the Security Council of it", Separovic said, adding the Prosecution would withdraw its complaint on lack of cooperation if Croatia handed over the requested documents. According to the ICTY Statute, the Prosecution informs the Tribunal President of a state's lack of cooperation, of which then the U.N. Security Council is informed. The Security Council can adopt a set of measures, from oral 'reprimands' to imposing sanctions. "We have already given 171 documents to The Hague Tribunal... we cannot tolerate that much pressure", he said. He believes some of the required documents would be handed to The Hague Tribunal. Separovic also said 'it was with interest' that Arbour listened to his proposal that those who voluntarily surrender to The Hague be released until the beginning of their trials. (hina) rml