U.S. LAW CALLS FOR SANCTIONS FOR THOSE WHO WON'T COOPERATE WITH ICTY - SAYS DOBBINS

NEW YORK, Sept 24 (Hina) - Croatia must acknowledge that United States legislation stipulates sanctions against those who fail to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, special U.S. envoy James Dobbins told reporters in New York on Thursday. He asserted Croatia must do so in the same way the U.S. acknowledges the proceedings stipulated by Croatian legislation relative to the extradition of Croatian war crimes suspect Mladen Naletilic Tuta.#L# Speaking to the press after talks with Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic, Dobbins said the U.S. had postponed applying legislation, thus showing it respected Croatia's law order and acknowledged the endeavours the Croatian Government was making to fulfil its obligations. He reminded the Lautenberg amendment binds U.S. authorities to sever assistance to countries which fail to meet their international commitments to The Hague Tribunal. Dobbins said the U.S. knew Tuta has been in prison two years and that The Hague Tribunal has been asking for his extradition for the past year. The U.S. hopes the situation will be resolved in the next fortnight and that he will be in The Hague, he added. The special envoy confirmed the existence of several open issues in Croatia-ICTY relations, but emphasised Tuta's extradition was the most important at present. Dobbins said Croatia and the U.S. had completed bilateral talks relative to Croatia's access to the World Trade Organisation, of which the WTO director had been notified. Asked whether Croatia's joining the WTO had been conditioned by cooperation with The Hague Tribunal, Dobbins said that had not been done formally. The possibility of Croatia's full participation in the international community, the WTO, NATO, and the European Union included, is certainly conditioned on the fulfilment of Croatia's international obligations, he asserted. Dobbins said the talks with Granic also focused on Croatia's participation in the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe. The U.S. supports Croatia's suggestion for the building of an important highway which would Italy and Greece alongside Croatia's Adriatic coastline. Asked whether Granic and he discussed the impending parliamentary elections in Croatia, Dobbins answered in the affirmative. The envoy said a position on the Croatian elections, and particularly voting in the Diaspora, had been taken by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) which met in New York on Wednesday. Dobbins said he believes Croatia will meet PIC expectations relative to voting in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as to pre- electoral proceedings and the elections in general. The envoy expressed hope to visit Croatia in October. (hina) ha