THE HAGUE, Jan 12 (Hina) - The prosecution of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is expecting of new Croatian authorities to fulfil its obligations, but does not wish in any way to dictate the tempo
by which Croatia will do so, ICTY prosecution spokesman Paul Risley said in The Hague Wednesday. Cooperation with the Tribunal is a crucial step forward for the entire Croatia -- in the sense of restoration into the international community and becoming a part of multi-national organisations such as the European Union and NATO, as well as the provision of assistance for reconstruction and development from international organisations such as the World Bank. People in Croatia are more aware o this than its leaders, Risley told Hina. This is evidently an important issue for the international community, he added. Asked which steps are expected of the new government, Risley said it was not up
THE HAGUE, Jan 12 (Hina) - The prosecution of the International
Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is expecting of
new Croatian authorities to fulfil its obligations, but does not
wish in any way to dictate the tempo by which Croatia will do so,
ICTY prosecution spokesman Paul Risley said in The Hague
Wednesday.
Cooperation with the Tribunal is a crucial step forward for the
entire Croatia -- in the sense of restoration into the
international community and becoming a part of multi-national
organisations such as the European Union and NATO, as well as the
provision of assistance for reconstruction and development from
international organisations such as the World Bank.
People in Croatia are more aware o this than its leaders, Risley
told Hina.
This is evidently an important issue for the international
community, he added.
Asked which steps are expected of the new government, Risley said it
was not up to the prosecution to set anything.
It is our right to state that Croatia is not cooperating, but we
cannot set deadlines or dictates, the decision is up to the Croatian
Government before a reaction by the Security Council, Risley said.
Last August the then president of the Tribunal, Gabrielle Kirk
McDonald reported Croatian to the UN Security Council for its
failure to cooperate, that is, for refusing the jurisdiction of the
ICTY over Croatian military and police operations "Storm" and
"Flash" and for refusing to extradite Mladen Naletilic Tuta, and
had requested for measures to be undertaken so cooperation could be
secured.
The fact in itself that such a report exists probably makes it
significantly more difficult to international organisations and
the international community to guarantee of promise Croatia
something in the sense of membership.
Until either the Security Council or Croatia solve the issue of
Croatia's failure to cooperate, nothing will happen or change. We
are frozen in a status quo, Risley said.
Croatia will eventually recognise the benefits of cooperating with
the Tribunal as an inseparable part of cooperation with the West,
with the international community, he added.
Asked whether he had contacted the Social Democratic Party (SDP) -
Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) coalition which won in the
recent parliamentary elections in Croatia, Risley said that there
had been no contacts to his knowledge.
Asked to comment on claims by the presidents of the SDP-HSLS
coalition who announced an improvement of cooperation between
Croatia and the ICTY, Risley said the Tribunal did not wish to
support certain candidates.
We are following the development of political events and we wish for
an improved cooperation, Risley said, describing changes on the
Croatian political scene as fascinating.
ICTY chief prosecutor Carla Del Ponte should visit the region,
including Croatia in the first half of the year, Risley said.
(hina) lml