Speaking to the EUobserver on Wednesday, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) said she was waiting for "one more extra step" on the part of the Croat authorities, suggesting she hoped for a breakthrough in the coming weeks.
Asked if she would insist that Croatia hand over the indicted general as a condition for her positive evaluation, she said: "I"m speaking only about full co-operation (with the tribunal)."
"Of course, the result of full co-operation is that we have indication about the location of Gotovina, or the best solution (is) that Gotovina is transferred. But the transfer of Gotovina is not the condition that the EU put on Croatia, it is full co-operation with us."
Commenting on criticisms from some member-states questioning her objectivity towards Croatia, she said: "Of course, different states react differently to what I say but that is politics, and I'm trying to stay out of it", and added that EU pressure on Zagreb was a very helpful instrument.
The first decision in March not to start the negotiations as general Gotovina was still at large has had a direct effect on the Croat authorities as they really started improving, she said, pointing to an action plan adopted in April, with concrete targets and deadlines.
She added that the recent arrest of one of Gotovina's alleged allies, businessman Hrvoje Petrac, could prove crucial for changing the course of events.
She wondered why Zagreb has still not sent its investigators to talk to Petrac about his possible connection with the general, but added that she believed this would be done and she would be provided with some feedback.
"That is what I"m asking from Croatia - to do immediately what must be done," she stressed. "I"m confident that maybe next week something will happen on this ground".
"The (UK) presidency will have my assessment before the end of September, and I would be really very happy if I had the possibility to assess positively," she said.
The chief prosecutor also pointed out how important the EU is for catching other fugitives from the region - namely Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.
"The EU is extremely important for the future of what we are doing in the Balkan region," stressed Del Ponte, adding "If we lose the support of the EU... I don"t see any result that Gotovina, Mladic and Karadzic would be delivered or arrested," Del Ponte told the EUobserver.