OSCE MISSION ADVOCATES CROATIA'S FULL COOPERATION WITH ICTY

ZAGREB, Sept 1 (Hina) - Croatia should cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). It has no reason not to admit that crimes had been committed on the Croatian side as well, as this does not imply a condemnation of the entire Croatian people, the spokesman for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to Croatia, Peter Palmer, told Hina on Wednesday. In a telephone conversation, Palmer said that the work of the ICTY was not in the jurisdiction of the OSCE Mission, but stressed the OSCE had always advocated full cooperation with the Tribunal. ICTY president reported Croatia to the UN Security Council for Croatia's non-cooperation with the Tribunal, but the Croatian Government is categorically disputing the allegations. It would be best for Croatia to show it does not protect war criminals by cooperating with the Tribunal, because refusing cooperation shows off a wrong impression that it is doing just that, Palmer said. It is the task of the OSCE Mission to do everything to help Croatia approach Euro-Atlantic structures, and cooperation with The Hague Tribunal is one precondition," Palmer said. (hina) lml jn