SEPAROVIC REPLIES TO BLEWITT'S STATEMENT

ZAGREB, Dec 2 (Hina) - Croatian Justice Minister Zvonimir Separovic on Thursday forwarded a letter of protest to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague following a comment made by the deputy chief prosecutor, Graham Blewitt, the Justice Minister said Thursday. "Claims made by the deputy chief prosecutor with which he expressed hope that after the death of President Franjo Tudjman Croatia's cooperation with the Tribunal would be re-established, as well as that the death of president Tudjman would inevitable spur changes - - are aggressive, morbid and necrophilic statements indicating the unscrupulousness of a man who has been persecuting Croats and Croatia for years," the letter said. With this statement, as well as his overall conduct all these years, the deputy chief prosecutor has demonstrated contempt for the head of a sovereign state and a lack of all tact and consideration towards a very ill person, Separovic said. He requested Blewitt's resignation, stressing that Croatia had cooperated with the ICTY and will continue to do so, protecting national interests and security of a sovereign state, the Foreign Ministry said. (hina) lml