INT. COURT OF JUSTICE: NEITHER CROATIA NOR ICTY CAN SEEK OUR OPINION

ZAGREB, Sept 7 (Hina) - Neither the ICTY nor Croatia can seek an opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) about the jurisdiction of the Hague-based International War Crimes Tribunal (ICTY) over investigations in the Croatian operations "Storm" and "Flash". Only bodies of the United Nations can ask for such opinion, said an ICJ official, on condition of anonymity, on Tuesday. Pursuant to rules of the ICJ, UN bodies can seek the advisory opinion of this court on all issues and disputes, whereas international organisations and UN agencies can ask an opinion only about legal questions in relation to their work. Considering the nature of the dispute between the Hague-based Tribunal and Croatia, the UN Security Council and the General Assembly can ask for the opinion about the jurisdiction, the official told Hina on the phone. Croatia's Justice Minister Zvonimir Separovic on Monday announced at a news conference that his country would propose to the ICTY President, Gabrielle Kirk McDonald, in a letter that an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice be asked about the jurisdiction of the ICTY over the 1995 military and police operations "Storm" and "Flash" in which Croatia liberated a large part of its territory which had been occupied by Serbs since 1991. Croatia's Foreign Minister Mate Granic forwarded a letter to the UN Security Council a week ago writing that Croatia will respect advice given by the International Court of Justice in case the Security Council asks for it. Since the constitution of the ICJ, the Security Council has just once asked the International Court of Justice for its opinion, while the UN General Assembly has used such opportunity several times. The ICJ is the top judicial body of the United Nations and was set up 50 years ago to settle disputes between UN member-states. Croatia has sued the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) for genocide before this court this year. (hina) jn ms