NALETILIC'S ATTORNEY DISSATISFIED WITH HAGUE MEDICAL TEAM

ZAGREB, Nov 2 (Hina) - Two Dutch doctors sent by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Tuesday examined Mladen Naletilic Tuta in the Zagreb hospital of Rebro and to evaluate whether Naletilic is capable of travelling to The Hague. Dr Vladimir Gruden, a member of a Zagreb doctors' team which is taking care of Naletilic's health, told reporters that Naletilic's mental condition got worse. Gruden also said that the Dutch doctors examined Naletilic, talked to Naletilic's doctors and copied all medical documentation. He stressed that the Dutch doctors' team failed to comment on Naletilic's health. Naletilic's attorney Kresimir Krsnik, who was also present during the examination, expressed dissatisfaction with skills of the doctors sent by the ICTY. The defence is surprised with the doctors' commission which comprises two doctors of the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam who did not want to even give their names to reporters, Krsnik said. "We expected at least a renowned cardiologist to be in the team," Krsnik said. He reiterated he was surprised the Tribunal had not sent the doctors to supervise the work of the Croatian doctors' consultation which, he said, was "at the highest level in Europe". Krsnik added the head of the consultation was Dr. Ivo Cikes, who was the chancellor of the European Cardiology Association. He held it was "inconceivable" that the international doctors' team could oppose the opinion of the Croatian doctors and establish that Naletilic is capable of travelling to The Hague. "Mladen Naletilic is not capable of being transferred from one hospital to another, let alone of such a long voyage," he stressed. Krsnik said he would request of Croatian Justice Minister Miroslav Separovic Wednesday to postpone Naletilic's extradition to the ICTY until his appeal to the European human rights tribunal in Strasbourg is resolved. He expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the Constitutional Court which dismissed Naletilic's appeal. According to Krsnik, Croatian courts should not have accepted the ICTY indictment against Naletilic. The indictment accuses the Croatian Government and army, not Naletilic as an individual, which, as he said, was in contrast to the ICTY Statute. "The indictment against Naletilic is a true example of the misuse of authority by the ICTY Prosecution," Krsnik said. He announced he would also request a review of the Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the ICTY. The ICTY a year ago charged Naletilic with crimes committed in the Mostar area, southern Bosnia, during the Croat-Muslim war. The tribunal requested his extradition from Croatia, where Naletilic is undergoing trial. Croatia has granted the request, but Naletilic has not been extradited due to a deteriorating health condition. Two weeks ago Naletilic was transferred from prison to a hospital where he underwent surgery which dilated his heart arteries. (hina) lml/it