CROATIAN GOVT HAILS DOKMANOVIC'S ARREST - JURICA

ZAGREB, July 4 (Hina) - The Croatian government hailed the arrest of Slavko Dokmanovic by UNTAES and International Tribunal members on 25 June in the Croatian Danube river region, head of the Croatian government Press Office, Neven Jurica, said at a press briefing on Friday. The arrest gave hope that persons who had committed brutal war crimes against the Croat people, Sljivancanin, Mrksic, Radic and Martic, who had ordered the shelling of Zagreb, would also be arrested and extradited to the Hague Tribunal. Jurica recalled that Croatia was the only country which showed readiness to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal, adding that General Tihomir Blaskic had voluntarily answered the subpoena, convinced of his innocence. He also recalled that Croatia had been the initiator of the establishment of the International Tribunal, and that it had passed a special law on cooperation with the Tribunal. On the other side, there seems to be no interest on the part of the Hague Tribunal for instituting legal processes against those who had committed war crimes against Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Jurica also spoke about the postponement of the World Bank loan to Croatia. "We describe this act as a precedent of involving political interests in economic decisions," he said. The Croatian government believed this to be a temporary decision. "It is pressure without foundation," Jurica stressed, pointing out that Croatia had unequivocally showed to be for the return of refugees, for cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and its devotion to the Dayton and Washington agreements. "Croatia will consistently respect the commitments of these agreements, but does not want to be held hostage by others' lack of readiness and inconsistency," Jurica said. He held that "Croatia is at a moment of strengthened nervousness if certain international circles who are surprised by the stability of Croatia, its resoluteness to be a partner, not an instrument". (hina) lm 041408 MET jul 97