MESIC: GENERAL STIPETIC'S NAME HAS BEEN MANIPULATED WITH

ZAGREB, Aug 3 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic told Thursday's issue of Croatia's daily "Vecernji List" that in his opinion, information on an investigation against General Petar Stipetic conducted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was a provocation. The latest issue of 'Globus' weekly reports that the Hague tribunal is conducting an investigation against general Stipetic, because during the Croatian army and police operation 'Storm' he commanded military actions in the former U.N. Sector North, which included the areas of Banovina and Kordun. The weekly presents data from the July report of the Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO) saying 267 Serb civilians were killed or went missing in those areas during or immediately after Operation 'Storm'. President Mesic told the daily he was convinced that the name of General Stipetic had been manipulated with, because he and the people he works with have no information on the issue. Before the publishing of the latest issue of "Globus", I received a phone call from reporter Darko Hudelist who told me he had a statement of United States Ambassador Montgomery according to which Stipetic was on the list of those who are to be invited before The Hague Tribunal. I said I was surprised that the United States Ambassador would have such information without me knowing about it. Even though I expressed my reservation about this, the reporter was determined in persuading me had has such information. Just a short while ago I received information that Ambassador Montgomery has not discussed this with anyone, nor he had such information at his disposal. He was stunned by the statement which involves his name as well. It seems like a provocation", Mesic said. "Globus" editor-in-chief Davor Butkovic on Thursday reported that Ambassador Montgomery was not connected in any way with information "Globus" had received on General Stipetic. (hina) it