Statement by PM Plenković after the "Quo vadis, Europe?" Conference

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Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Friday that in the case of war crimes allegations against Croatian generals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was yet to be seen what the charges were about, but stressed that Croatian authorities would talk with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and, without interfering in the work of judicial authorities, ensure the protection of national interests and Croatian Army officers.

"One should see what this is about, as long as there are no indictments, things are at the level of such attempts as this and they happened previously as well. We will approach cooperation rationally," Plenkovic told reporters after a conference on the present and future of the European project.

The Belgrade-based Vecernje Novosti daily reported on Friday that the interior ministry of the Bosnian Serb entity of Republika Srpska had filed criminal reports with a court in Bosnia and Herzegovina against 16 Croatian and Bosnian Croat generals for war crimes. Among those generals are Ante Gotovina and Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic.

Plenkovic said that Croatian officials would hold talks with officials of Bosnia and Herzegovina and ensure protection of both national interests and the Croatian Army officers in question.

"We have no fear. The Croatian Army was involved in liberating the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Great Serbian aggression headed by Slobodan Milosevic. Everything we did was based on the agreement between Presidents Franjo Tudjman and Alija Izetbegovic. We have no dilemmas as to our strategic contribution," said Plenkovic.

Asked if the criminal reports constituted interference of politics in judicial matters, Plenkovic said that that remained to be seen.

"All war crimes, all criminal acts should be investigated, prosecuted, and those responsible for them should answer. That is the principle we will not give up. We condemn orchestrated or selective prosecution. We do not interfere in the work of the judiciary but protect Croatian national interests," he said.



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