USA HANDS OVER DOCUMENTS ON SAKIC CASE TO CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 7112 ) ZAGREB, Aug 31 (Hina) - A US envoy in charge of war crimes issues on Monday handed over documents to Croatia pertaining to a former commander of a World War II concentration camp in Croatia. Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic received Ambassador David Shaeffer who handed him documents from US government archives that could be useful in the trial of Dinko Sakic, former commander of the Jasenovac concentration camp during the Independent State of Croatia (NDH, 1941-1945). Shaeffer also offered his professional assistance in the case and called on all Croatian representatives to visit the United States, where they will gain full access to the remaining archived documentation. Granic thanked Shaeffer for the documents and offered assistance. He stressed the Croatian government's interest to provide Dinko Sakic with an objective trial in line with the highest judicial standards, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said. Granic and Shaeffer held talks on the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague, during which Granic said that Croatia cooperated with the Tribunal in a constructive way, but the Croatian government still had some remarks. The main criticism pertains to the fact that not one indictment has been issued against perpetrators of war crimes against Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina , and that the three indictees for war crimes in Vukovar remained at large, including Milan Martic. The government is particularly concerned with the tardy start of proceedings against Croats in The Hague, Granic said. (hina) lml 311337 MET aug 98