FOREIGN MINISTER GRANIC RECEIVES US AMBASSADOR AT HIS REQUEST

ZAGREB, Aug 28 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Saturday received US Ambassador William Montgomery at his request, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement today. Ambassador Montgomery conveyed his government's concern over the current relations between Croatia and The Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which have been brought to a very sensitive level following ICTY President Gabrielle Kirk McDonald's report to the Security Council regarding Croatia's non-co-operation with the Tribunal. #L# According to Montgomery, co-operation with The Hague Tribunal is an obligation for all UN member-countries as it is part of the Security Council's binding decisions. Thus, lack of cooperation automatically means negative consequences for the country demonstrating a complete or partial lack of cooperation. Montgomery also said there was a serious threat that the failure to find an effective solution to the current dispute between Croatia and the Tribunal could have a far-reaching negative effect on the positive development of relations between Croatia and the United States which had been achieved so far. The US Ambassador expressed his government's interest and wish for such consequences not to occur. Granic stressed the United States had been Croatia's main strategic partner in all crucial moments in the past nine years of the country's independence. He recalled that Croatia had given a major contribution to achieving the Washington Agreement, the Split Declaration and the Dayton Agreement, as well as that it had fully supported NATO's operation in Kosovo. Croatia believes that harmonising interests and finding mutually useful solutions in a constructive dialogue between the two governments can help solve the current situation to the benefit of both countries. Croatia has confirmed its readiness to cooperate with the Tribunal also by adopting a constitutional law regulating its cooperation with The Hague and has so far cooperated in a thorough and responsible manner. Croatia therefore believes the existing differences regarding the jurisdiction of The Hague Tribunal over the operations 'Flash' and 'Storm' can and must be solved with the instruments of law and not politics, in line with the basic regulations and nature of the Tribunal, which would be in the interest of the Republic of Croatia and the Tribunal's credibility, Granic said. The two officials went on to discuss possible solutions for overcoming the current situation, concluding it posed a serious threat to strengthening relations between Croatia and the United States and Croatia's position in the international community. The two officials concluded that finding a way out of the current situation was in the interest of both states, as well as in the Tribunal's interest, and that the solution should take into account both the protection of Croatia's national interests and the jurisdiction and role of the Tribunal. The two officials expressed conviction that efforts would be intensified very soon with the aim of finding a solution which would harmonise Croatia's national interests and the Tribunal's demands. Such a solution would undoubtedly enable the continuation of the overall cooperation between Croatia and the United States and its further strengthening to the benefit of both states, and reinforce the international position of Croatia as a modern, mature and responsible country, which with its constructive cooperation and initiatives acts as a factor of stability not only in the region but also in all modern international processes, taking care at the same time of its national interests, the Ministry said in the statement. (hina) rml