CROATIAN PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF-OF-STAFF RECEIVES US ENVOY

( Editorial: --> 7139 ) ZAGREB, Aug 31 (Hina) - US envoy for war crimes issues, David Shaeffer, on Monday hailed Croatia's cooperation with the international war crimes tribunal. During talks with Croatian President's Chief-of-Staff, Hrvoje Sarinic, the Ambassador stressed America's determination for those indicted for war crimes in eastern Croatia's city of Vukovar to be brought before the tribunal. They are living freely in Yugoslavia, which is unacceptable, Schaeffer said in Zagreb on Monday. Sarinic expressed dissatisfaction that nobody had yet been indicted for crimes against Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He also expressed surprise with the conduct of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) regarding to events during the Croatian military and police operation "Storm". The operation had been launched and completed in the summer of 1995 with the aim of liberating occupied areas within Croatia's internationally recognised borders. The talks between Sarinic and Shaeffer also focused on the trial of Dinko Sakic, a former commander of the Jasenovac concentration camp during World War II who was recently extradited by Argentina to be put on trial in Croatia. Sarinic confirmed Croatia's openness to all international observers and possible witnesses from abroad to attend the trial. Shaeffer expressed satisfaction with the course of the proceedings. Present at the meeting were also President's advisor for foreign affairs, Neven Madey, and US Ambassador to Croatia, William Montgomery. (hina) lml 311456 MET aug 98