CROATIAN GOVERNMENT DISMISSES SILAJDZIC'S ACCUSATION

ZAGREB, Aug 26 (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Thursday dismissed accusations made by the co-chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Haris Silajdzic, who claimed that Croatian President Franjo Tudjman should go before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and be held accountable for the war between Croats and Bosniaks (Moslems) in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Government called on Silajdzic to withdraw his claims as a condition of continuing cooperation with him. "The Croatian Government is deeply shocked by the recent claims by Haris Silajdzic, the co-chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, published in Jutarnji list on August 25, 1999, which are in complete contradiction to true facts about the entire cooperation so far between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and about Croatia's role in assisting Bosnia-Herzegovina to defend itself from the Greater Serbian aggression, liberate itself from occupation and get stabilised as a state," the Government said in a statement issued Thursday. As proof of this are numerous signed agreements and documents in whose drafting Silajdzic had actively participated and been witness to, the statement said. The Croatian Government thus, expressed "surprise and deep regret for grievous defamation which in no case contributes to the further development of established adequate good neighbourly relations between the two countries". The Government expects Haris Silajdzic to "without delay withdraw his unfounded accusations," and "in the contrary, any form of cooperation of Croatian Government and other state bodies with Mr. Silajdzic would be discontinued". Additionally, the Croatian Government expects the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Presidency of Bosnia- Herzegovina to seriously review Silajdzic's claims, as well as the damage they cause to the relations between Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina. (hina) lml