B'NAI B'RITH REPRESENTATIVES ARRIVE IN ZAGREB

( Editorial: --> 0113 ) ZAGREB, July 27 (Hina) - Representatives of the Jewish organisation B'nai B'rith have arrived in Croatia to closely follow the resumed investigation of former World War II Jasenovac concentration camp commander Dinko Sakic, B'nai B'rith international president Tommy Baer told Hina on Monday. Baer said he had received certain guarantees from the Croatian Embassy in Washington that international standards would be met during Sakic's trial. Baer stressed his organisation had cooperated very closely with the Croatian Ambassador to the United States. He also added that Croatian President Franjo Tudjman had invited him to be an international observer at the trial. The investigation of Dinko Sakic, who was extradited to Croatia from Argentina in mid-June, is being led by the Zagreb County Court. During its stay in Zagreb, the B'nai B'rith delegation will hold talks with people involved in the investigation procedure. Baer recalled that the organisation intensively worked for three years on Sakic's file. He may be the most important living Nazi war criminal who has not yet been punished for his crimes, Baer said. He added that Sakic was being charged with the murder of a large number of Jasenovac camp prisoners. The Dinko Sakic case was very important, not only for the families of those who had been killed in Jasenovac, but also for the establishment of the Croatian justice system's credibility, Baer stressed. He held as very important that Croatia show the world it had truly given up its past from the period of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH, 1941-1945). Baer said he did not know whether the Croatian people were well acquainted with the crimes that took place in Jasenovac. He said he had faith in the Croatian people as a people of good will who wanted to see justice served. Baer expressed satisfaction with the way in which the investigation was proceeding and stressed that the most important aspect of the trial was that the truth be seen. B'nai B'rith did not directly take part in the case of Sakic's wife, Nada, who was arrested last week in Argentina, Baer said. He added that it was believed Nada Sakic was also involved in certain activities in the camp. B'nai B'rith is the most important Jewish organisation which has branches in 57 countries around the world. It is the only Jewish organisation which has permanent representatives in the United Nations and the European Union. The organisation was established 154 years ago and has a wide spectrum of interests: from education programmes and fighting terrorism to the prosecution of war criminals and fighting for the respect of human rights. B'nai B'rith is to open a branch office in Croatia soon. A B'nai B'rith delegation headed by president Baer also visited Croatia in 1995. (hina) lml jn /mbr 271738 MET jul 98