'KLEIN IS LOOKING FOR A NEW NEGOTIATOR' - 'VJESNIK' COMMENTARY

ZAGREB, 9 May (Hina) - General Jacques Klein should chose a new negotiator who would represent interests of Croatian rebel Serbs in eastern Slavonia. Goran Hadzic is certainly not the person Klein is looking for, Mirko Sajler writes in today's 'VJESNIK' in a commentary headlined 'Klein Is Looking For A Negotiator'. In his commentary, Sajler writes about the person whom the Serbs, under instructions from Belgrade, chose to be their negotiator at the talks with the Croatian government in the period of peaceful reintegration. Goran Hadzic is one of the organizers of the Croatian Serb rebellion against Croatian authorities which were elected at the first democratic elections in 1990. At the time of the organisation of Croatian Serbs, who are later to support the aggression of the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) against Croatia, Hadzic was arrested in Plitvice, but was released by the Croatian authorities. Shortly after this, Hadzic took part in the genocide of Vukovar residents and residents of other parts of Croatia. That was why he was convicted in absentia for the war crime of genocide. The Croatian Parliament is currently discussing a bill on amnesty. The bill will not refer to 15 persons and one of them is Goran Hadzic. This means that Hadzic, who is to be the Serb negotiator at the talks on the peaceful reintegration of the occupied areas, could be arrested immediately after the completion of reintegration and establishment of Croatian authorities. The Croat side should not negotiate with such a person because of the very fact that he was indicted for war crimes. The Transitional Administrator should find someone more suitable for the role of negotiator, Sajler concludes. (hina) rm jn 091308 MET may 96