ARGENTINA'S FEDERAL JUDGE SIGNS DECREE ON SAKIC'S EXTRADITION

( Editorial: --> 1771 ) BUENOS AIRES/ZAGREB, May 5 (Hina)- Argentina's federal judge Hernando Bernasconi on Tuesday signed a decree on extradition of the former commander of Jasenovac concentration camp, Dinko Sakic, to Croatia. The extradition decree was served on Tuesday to Sakic's appointed defence lawyer and to the state attorney, Judge Bernasconi told Hina in a telephone interview. By the time Hina talked with Spokesman of the Argentinean Foreign Ministry, Jorge Raventos, the judge's decree had still not been served. Raventos explained to Hina that the decree reflects the judge's assessment of the feasibility of extradition, but that the Argentinean Government could overrule the decree within the next ten days. However, he stressed the Government could actually streamline the extradition by "expressly confirming the decree, which would enable it to execute extradition before the expiry of then days". "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is drafting an extradition decree for signing by President Carlos Menem," Raventos said. Once these procedures are complete, details of the extradition should be agreed between Argentina and Croatia. Sakic, who has been living in Argentina for more than 40 years, was arrested last week in his home in the town of Santa Teresita. The arrest came more than a month after he said in an interview for a TV station that he had been a concentration camp commander. (Hina) mr/mrb 052025 MET may 98