ZAGREB, June 26 (Hina) - The Croatian Government confirmed on Thursday
that it would continue co-operating with the International War Crimes
Tribunal (ICTY), although the Croatian party was not satisfied with some
acts and conduct of the Tribunal toward Croatia.
At a session, the Government accepted a report on relations between
Croatia and the International Criminal Tribunal, drafted by a government
commission for the cooperation with this Tribunal led by Justice
Minister Miroslav Separovic.
After a discussion on the report, the Government adopted
conclusions which say that despite dissatisfaction with some acts of the
Hague Tribunal, the Government confirmed its commitment to high goals
and tasks of the Tribunal, and confirmed that it would continue co-
operating with the Tribunal in line with international obligations, the
Croatian Constitution and Constitutional Laws.
In the conclusions, the Government voiced dissatisfaction with
political pressure exerted on Croatia with the aim of accomplishing some
goals, despite the proved cooperation of Croatia with the Tribunal.
The government was dissatisfied with the Tribunal's conduct toward
Croatia, and, in particular, with not the same approach toward countries
obliged to cooperate. It was also dissatisfied with the fact that the
Tribunal failed to process all crimes committed in territory of Croatia
or crimes committed against Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
According to the conclusions, the Government will inform the Hague
Tribunal that Croatia is ready to process war crimes suspects who are in
Croatia, with the aim of accelerating processes against war criminals.
During the discussion on the report, Foreign Minister Mate Granic,
said that Croatia opted for cooperation with the Tribunal, but with the
request for full principles and transparency in the Tribunal's work.
Granic described as unacceptable that only four persons were
accused of crimes committed against Croatia in which 13,000 people were
killed and 40,000 wounded and of mass killing (of civilians) recorded
from Skabrnja, Lovas to Dubrovnik.
"Nothing is done about it, whereas Croatia is being under pressure
to provide documents on the military operation 'Storm' (when in 1995 a
large part of Croatian areas controlled by Serb rebels was liberated),"
Granic added.
According to the report submitted by Separovic, for all crimes that
were committed during the aggression against Croatia, only indictments
against Sljivancanin, Mrksic, Radic and Martic, have been issued but
nothing more has been done. Furthermore, no one has been accused so far
of crimes committed against the Croat people in Bosnia, despite evidence
on this matter.
Minister Granic also warned that since the beginning of the process
against General Tihomir Blaskic, Croatia had been blamed for
international conflict, and, on the other hand, the country was denied
access to necessary documents.
In connection with the Blaskic trial, the report showed
dissatisfaction with conditions of custody and with postponement of the
beginning of the trial, after Blaskic surrendered to the Tribunal of his
own free will on April 1, 1996. He waited almost 15 months for the
trial, although it is the duty of the Tribunal to ensure fast and fair
trial to the defendant, according to the report.
The report cited all forms of cooperation and help Croatia had
already offered to the Tribunal, in line with its obligations.
A Vice Premier, Jure Radic said that it was unacceptable that
Tribunal officials could 'snoop around' Croatia and work outside
standards and procedures.
Defence Minister Gojko Susak said that Croatia was a law-based
state and it should deal with its own things by itself. He proposed that
the Hague Tribunal should be notified of Croatia's readiness to process
suspects under the auspices of that Tribunal. This proposal was
supported by the Government, and adopted as one of the conclusions.
At the end of the discussion, Premier Zlatko Matesa reiterated
their concern about that only four men were accused of crimes against
the Croatian State and people, and no one of crimes against the Croat
people in Bosnia.
(hina) jn mš
261834 MET jun 97
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