SCHEFFER HOLDS NEWS CONFERENCE ON VISIT TO VUKOVAR, COOPERATION WITH ICTY

WITH ICTY ZAGREB, 18 Sept (Hina) - "I have just returned from a visit to Vukovar where I called for the immediate arrest and transfer to The Hague of the Vukovar three where they must stand trial on charges relating to some of the most horrific killings and destruction in the entire war in the area of the former Yugoslavia," special U.S. envoy in charge of war crimes issues, Ambassador David Scheffer, told a press conference at Zagreb airport on Thursday. The Hague Tribunal has issued indictments against the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) (later the Yugoslav Army) officers Veselin Sljivancanin, Miroslav Radic and Mile Mrksic. Upon his return from Vukovar, at the end of his one-day visit to Croatia, Scheffer said that Vukovar stands as a stark reminder that justice has yet not been rendered for the people of Croatia. The Vukovar three, who are responsible for the crimes committed in Vukovar and Ovcara (where some 200 wounded from Vukovar hospital were executed) are in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and 'it is imperative for President Milosevic to immediately turn over to the Hague the Vukovar three,' Scheffer said. The U.S. President Bill Clinton appointed David Scheffer special envoy in charge of war crimes issues in May this year. Scheffer is coordinating U.S. support for the work of international tribunals for war crimes committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia and Ruanda and is heading a U.S. delegation in the U.N. in talks on the establishment of a permanent international tribunal for war crimes. Croatia should be doing everything it possibly can to comply with and advance the work of the ICTY or join the ranks of those who are locked out from the international community and out of the economic prosperity, Scheffer said. I am very keenly aware of efforts made by the Government here to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal. This refers primarily to the handing over of Tihomir Blaskic and Zlatko Aleksovski. But, there are other idictees of the Tribunal, particularly Dario Kordic and Ivica Rajic who remain at large and who the Government of Croatia could facilitate the arrest of. Pero Skopljak should be transferred immediately to The Hague, and requirements of cooperation with the prosecutor in the Blaskic case must be fulfilled, Scheffer said. "Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and special U.S. envoy Robert Gelbard believe strongly that until the Croatian Government has performed its obligations under the Dayton accords, including full cooperation with the International Tribunal, that both multilateral and bilateral economic assistance should be withheld from Croatia," Scheffer said, adding that the U.S. administration would continue to exercise its influence in order to block economic assistance until Croatia fulfils its obligations. Asked about the answer to those requests of the Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic, whom he met Thursday morning, Scheffer said: Minister Granic is clearly very seized with this issue and understands what our fundamental requirements are, as well as that the time to meet those requirements is limited. I expressed hope that the Croatian Government would achieve some progress concerning those issues. I think that there is no ambiguity that should be left on this issue between our two governments, Scheffer said. According to Scheffer, the trial of war criminals is a key part in the process of reconciliation and establishment of a lasting peace in the region. (hina) jn rm 182248 MET sep 97