GRANIC:QUASHING OF SUBPOENA IS EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS FOR CROATIA ( Editorial: --> 6934 )

( Editorial: --> 6934 ) ZAGREB, Oct 30 (Hina) - "We deem the decision to quash the subpoena to Croatia and Defence Minister Gojko Susak as an exceptional international success of the Republic of Croatia," Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic told reporters after Thursday's session of the Croatian government. The decision, according to Granic, had been expected. The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Wednesday decided that the Tribunal could not issue a subpoena duces tecum to sovereign states or their officials, and annulled the subpoena forwarded to Croatia. This decision was very important for the defence of the dignity of Croatia which had showed that it wanted to and could cooperate with the Tribunal in The Hague, Granic said. Croatia respected international legal norms, he said, stressing Croatia's determination to do everything to defend its interests. Granic stressed that Croatia had received support from numerous countries during the discussion on the subpoena, as well as after the decision had been brought. Asked when the public would become acquainted with the draft agreement on special relations between Croatia and the Bosnian Federation, Granic said that the draft agreement might be made public next week. The draft agreement would first be submitted to the Bosnian Federation, after which it would be made public, Granic added. (hina) lm 301620 MET oct 97