ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - Croatian Justice Minister Zvonimir Separovic send a letter to the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Carla Del Ponte, expressing gratitude for her
condolences extended on the death of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. In the letter Separovic also reiterated his dissatisfaction for previous statements made by the prosecutor's deputy, Graham Blewitt, the Justice Ministry said in a statement Friday.
ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - Croatian Justice Minister Zvonimir
Separovic send a letter to the chief prosecutor of the
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY),
Carla Del Ponte, expressing gratitude for her condolences extended
on the death of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman.
In the letter Separovic also reiterated his dissatisfaction for
previous statements made by the prosecutor's deputy, Graham
Blewitt, the Justice Ministry said in a statement Friday. #L#
"President Franjo Tudjman was a great man and will live in the
hearts of all Croatian citizens ... today Croatians rule over their
country ... which is the direct merit of the leadership, state-
building qualities and resoluteness of the President," Separovic
stressed.
He added that the lack of "sensitivity Blewitt showed in saying that
the death of President Tudjman could lead to changes for the better
if Croatia would fully cooperate with the Tribunal, was and
remained profoundly insulting".
"I am disappointed that you have not recognised the insulting
nature of Mr. Blewitt's utterances," Separovic said in the letter.
He stressed that Blewitt, as a private person, could have the
freedom to say what he wanted about Tudjman.
"Blewitt, however, is not a private person. He is a highly ranked
official of the United Nations. Croatia is a member of this
international organisation and has full right to recognition and
respect UN officials are obliged to indicate to a member country,"
the letter said.
One Separovic's letter, issued on December 2, requested Blewitt's
resignation for his "morbid" and "necrophillic" statement relating
to the very ill Croatian President.
At the time, Blewitt had, in reply to a reporter's question about
Croatia's cooperation with the ICTY after President Tudjman,
expressed hope in more cooperation by Croatian services.
I would certainly express hope that this could mean a change for the
better -- that Croatia would fully cooperate with the Tribunal and
fulfil its legal obligations, Blewitt had said.
He on Wednesday stressed he was very surprised that the Croatian
Justice Minister had so misinterpreted his words.
It appears Croatia was using any opportunity to publicly attack the
Tribunal, and upon our last visit to Zagreb we had indicated that
this was not the conduct of a government prepared to cooperate with
the Tribunal. I certainly hope this will change, Blewitt said.
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