BLASKIC CASE: NEW MEETING ON BINDING ORDER TO CROATIA FOR MAY 5

( Editorial: --> 9000 ) THE HAGUE, April 23 (Hina) - The trial chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in charge of the Blaskic case will repeat a meeting with representatives of Croatia, the defence and the prosecution in relation to a binding order it issued to Croatia. At the May 5 meeting, the judges should issue a conclusion on the remarks which Croatia and the prosecutor made Wednesday in relation to the binding order. On Wednesday Croatia requested that the ICTY Prosecutor's Office specify the requests contained in the February binding order demanding Croatia to submit documents. Croatia's legal representative David Rivkin warned that the prosecutor did not know what exactly was needed and that the demands referred to a period far longer than that covered by the charges against Blaskic. The demands also refer to the whole of Bosnia-Herzegovina, whereas the charges refer only to central Bosnia. Prosecutor Mark Harmon noted that in the 15 months since it was asked to submit the documents, Croatia had submitted very little material. Many of our demands are precise, he pointed out. The binding order to Croatia was signed by Judge Claude Jorga on January 30. Croatia filed a complaint about the order on February 13. The ICTY Court of Appeals decided on February 26 that the trial chamber must hear Croatia's, as well as the defence's and prosecution's arguments. This was done yesterday. (hina) ha/mb 231841 MET apr 98