GOVT OFFICE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT CERMAK'S TALKS WITH ICTY

( Editorial: --> 3385 ) ZAGREB, May 12 (Hina) - Croatia on Tuesday denied that the former Deputy Defence Minister, reserve officer Lt Gen Ivan Cermak, had talked to representatives of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia through the Croatian Government's Office for Cooperation with the ICTY. The Government Office communicated that "the information about talks having been held via the Office is not correct nor did Cermak contact the Office". The Zagreb-based daily "Jutarnji list" on Tuesday published an interview with Cermak in which he said that his talks with ICTY representatives were conducted via the Government Office. "Everything was in line with normal procedures, via state bodies, that is the Government Office for Cooperation with the ICTY," said Cermak, speaking about his meeting with ICTY representatives a month ago. "I did not contact them independently," said Cermak who after Operation Storm was commander of the Knin military district. The Government Office added in its statement that it "did not receive any request from the Hague's Prosecution in regards to conducting an interview with Cermak". (hina) mrb/rm 122018 MET may 98