IS ICTY CONDUCTING INVESTIGATION INTO EVENTS AFTER OPERATION

ZAGREB/STOCKHOLM, 21 Oct (Hina) - A statement that former ICTY prosecutor Erik Oestberg made in an interview with the Stockholm- based paper 'Dagens Nyheter' Monday issue, saying that the Hague- based International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was investigating the roles of some Croatian officials in the events of 1995, following the military action 'Storm', has aroused great public interest. According to the AFP news agency, Oestberg, who recently ended his 2,5-year mandate as one of the ICTY prosecutors, claimed that the ICTY had started an investigation into war crimes committed in former UNPA (U.N. Protected Area) Sectors 'North' and 'South'. 'I would be surprised should the investigation into 'Storm' end without indictments against high officials,' Oestberg said, adding he meant Croatian army officers. In the interview, of which the AFP issued some excerpts, Oestberg said that he had not personally participated in the investigation, but knew that it was being conducted. In a phone conversation with Hina on Tuesday, Oestberg refuted the claims ascribed to him in 'Dagens Nyheter'. 'I said that many things that had happened in the former Yugoslavia were subject to the ICTY investigation,' Oestberg said. Considering that he has been ascribed a statement saying that the ICTY investigation includes high Croatian army officers, Hina asked Oestberg for a more detailed answer. 'I know nothing about that. Generally, the aim of the Tribunal is to cover with its investigation the highest possible chains of command, but I don't know how far the investigation will go, whether it will include local commanders or someone else,' Oestberg said, adding he did not even know who was running the investigation, if there was any. 'I only said that the Tribunal is acquainted with and concentrated on the incidents which occurred in various parts of Croatia. Personally, I don't know how far the investigation has progressed and what is happening now,' he said. Explaining some of his statements in 'Dagens Nyheter', Oestberg said that in answering a direct question by journalist Christian Palme, he had said he believed that the events from the period of Operation 'Storm' were being investigated, as it would be unimaginable for the Tribunal 'not to deal with that question'. Asked by Hina to explain how he was able to comment on ICTY investigations, since it is known that it is the Tribunal's practice not to give any statements on procedures which are under way, Oestberg said he stopped working as one of the prosecutors in The Hague in July, and could therefore say whatever he wanted, but was not acquainted with the details of the current ICTY procedures. At the end of today's interview, the former ICTY prosecutor said it was possible that the ICTY would investigate the responsibility of persons who encouraged crimes, including the role of the media in generating intolerance. 'That would be interesting and useful, but I don't know whether that possibility is being considered at all,' Oestberg said. As regards the text published in 'Dagens Nyheter', it is worth recalling that the same journalist - Christian Palme - had stated in the same paper in May last year that the ICTY was considering the possibility of issuing an indictment against the Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. Richard Goldstone, who was then the chief ICTY prosecutor, immediately dismissed the claim. (hina) mm rm 212220 MET oct 97