"I refuse on the government's behalf any attempt to link Croatia and Turkey," Sanader said during a visit to Bjelovar, some 70 kilometres northeast of Zagreb.
President Stjepan Mesic, who was also on a visit to Bjelovar, said Croatians had no reason for concern. "The things we are doing are not being done because of Carla del Ponte or any institution, but only because of our citizens and the quality of their life," Mesic said when asked about Croatia's prospects of starting EU entry talks in light of the upcoming report by the UN war crimes tribunal's chief prosecutor on Croatia's cooperation with the tribunal.
"Croatia is moving on whatever the decision, and I can back what President (Mesic) has said. Croatia has done its best, primarily for its own sake, because the rule of law is what all Croatians want. In that regard, the government and all other institutions have done their utmost, and as you know, the President and I chair the National Security Council," Sanader said.
The National Security Council is included in the implementation of the government's action plan aimed at locating runaway Hague tribunal indictee Ante Gotovina.
"The decisions are not up to us, but the EU," Sanader said.
The PM said that in the past two days he held meetings with a number of top EU officials in the European Parliament, adding that he had made it very clear that Croatia was a law-based state and would do all to solve the last remaining case.
The reporters also asked for comment on the case of Josip Jovic, a reporter charged with contempt of court whose arrest the UN war crimes tribunal requested on Wednesday. PM Sanader said the matter should be dealt with by the judiciary, and not the executive authorities, and President Mesic concurred.
Sanader and Mesic visited Bjelovar to attend events marking the city's day.