WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak on Monday honored extradition of two Bosnian Serb officers to the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.
WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak on
Monday honored extradition of two Bosnian Serb officers to the
International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. #L#
"It is a beginning of the process. We welcome that," Defence
Minister Susak said, commenting on the event in an interview for the
Cable News Network (CNN) television.
Officials with IFOR in Sarajevo confirmed on Monday night that
the officers, General Djordje Djukic and Colonel Aleksa Krsmanovic,
were flown to The Hague for further investigation.
The officers were apprehended by Bosnian government police some
ten days ago. The International Tribunal (ICTY) requested the Bosnian
government to extradite the two and also requested the NATO to assist
in their extradition and transportation to Netherlands.
Susak said that the extradition of other suspects, including
Croats, was only way to achieve progress in the peace process.
Croatian Sabor (parliament) was on the way to pass a bill which would
enable cooperation with the ICTY, he added.
Questioned about the Mostar crisis he said its significance was
exaggerated.
"If we make an overall progress in the Federation (of Bosnia-
Herzegovina), Mostar will follow the pattern.
"Some progress in the Federation has been achieved over past few
weeks. The government has been established, infrastructure founded,
the talks on cantonal organization are underway. I think it is a
progress," Susak said.
"The disputed arbitration in Mostar has taken everyone by
surprise, but I don't see it as a point of the Federation's failure,"
he said, adding that negotiations between Federation President
Kresimir Zubak, Vice President Ejup Ganic and the two Mostar mayors
also were underway.
Questioned on military cooperation with Bosnian Croats, Susak
affirmed that the cooperation was a part of an agreement between
Croatian and Bosnian government, upon the Bosnian President Alija
Izetbegovic's request.
"We do not offer our help any more, since there is no need for
it. The IFOR is now there."
Commenting on developments in the eastern Slavonia, Baranja and
western Syrmium area, Susak said the United Nations mission was not
as rapid is the Croatian government hoped it would be.
"But we should remain optimistic and hopeful that the peaceful
solution would be achieved."
Susak, who had arrived to the United States upon an invitation
by U.S. Defence Minister William Perry, on Monday met President's
adviser for national security Anthony Lake and the Undersecretary of
State Peter Tarnoff.
The reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western
Syrmium and the situation in Mostar, were dominant topics of the
talks Susak had so far had in Washington.
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