ZAGREB, Sept 25 (Hina) - Commenting on the Croatian President Stjepan Mesic's address to the nation on Wednesday evening, the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) leader stated that with the justified caution of radicalism by extremist
circles, some interpretations could say that this was some form of disagreement of Mesic with the policies of the Government and Sabor and so his assessment that this refers to obstructing co-operation with the Hague Tribunal.
ZAGREB, Sept 25 (Hina) - Commenting on the Croatian President
Stjepan Mesic's address to the nation on Wednesday evening, the
Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) leader stated that with the
justified caution of radicalism by extremist circles, some
interpretations could say that this was some form of disagreement
of Mesic with the policies of the Government and Sabor and so his
assessment that this refers to obstructing co-operation with the
Hague Tribunal. #L#
For the HSS such assessment is incorrect and unacceptable because
President Mesic incorrectly assessed the critical inspection of
the Hague-based tribunal's indictment against General Bobetko as
the obstruction of the co-operation with the tribunal, Zlatko
Tomcic, the HSS president said following an extraordinary session
of the party's presidency.
The activities by the Government and parliament until now have by no
means obstructed co-operation with the UN tribunal but have
legitimately and responsibly acted within the framework of legal
standards with the intent to protect the legitimacy of the Homeland
War and the dignity of the Croatian people, Tomcic said.
The HSS chief notes that all legal means are being utilised as
stipulated in the Statute and regulations of the tribunal and the
Croatian Constitutional Law on Co-operation with it. At the same
time, Tomcic added, it is clearly pointed out that Croatia is
prepared to fulfil its obligations towards the Hague.
I regret that such assessments were made because they could hamper
the Government's and Sabor's efforts to protect national and state
interest, Tomcic said.
HSS believes that it would be far more productive for national
interest that the government, president and parliament have at
least similar ideas about such vital issues.
However, Tomcic added, matters should not be over dramatised
because in democratic countries it is not unusual to have different
political assessments about certain events between the president,
executive and legislative authorities.
HSS believes that democratic forces will find an appropriate
response using legal and legitimate means at their disposal which
are recognised by the international community, Tomcic said.
HSS considers that Mesic's statement will not contribute to
combined efforts by the government and Sabor to buffer various
radical moves, primarily on the domestic front but also to show the
international community that there are grounds to prove the
unconstitutionality of some sections of the indictment, Tomcic
said.
Tomcic confirmed that he was surprised that in his statement, Mesic
did not utter one word of support for the Government and Sabor to use
legal means to dispute the indictment.
(hina) sp ms