Minister Žužul held a speech before the UN Security Council

In his speech to the Security Council, Minister Žužul pointed out that Croatia is aware of the importance of co-operating with the Tribunal and will continue, as before, to co-operate and fulfil its obligations the best way possible. Žužul reiterated Croatia’s firm and unequivocal position that all Croatian citizens are obliged to co-operate with the Tribunal, which includes General Gotovina’s co-operation as well. As regards Gen. Gotovina, the Croatian Government is not avoiding its duty and continues to appeal to Gen. Gotovina to voluntarily hand himself over to the Tribunal.

Minister Žužul reminded that this year Croatia has extradited generals Čermak and Markač to the Tribunal and ensured the extradition of six indicted Bosnian Croats, and that recently Bosnian Croat Miroslav Bralo also turned himself in. Žužul said that Croatia is a country of a mature democracy and is determined to meet its obligations and continue insisting that each Croatian citizen with no exception obey the law regardless of their ethnic background, and that all indicted persons be brought to justice.

Minister Žužul reminded the Security Council about the circumstances of 1991 when the Republic of Croatia fell victim to the aggression by the former Yugoslav National Army led by Milošević and that the difference between the victim and the aggressor should not be ignored. It was Croatia’s duty and right to defend its territory and citizens, which it did, said Minister Žužul, which does not mean that those who have committed individual crimes should go unpunished. Minister Žužul emphasised that future generations need to be able to distinguish who was the victim and who was the aggressor, that it is a country’s right to defend itself and that individual crimes may have been committed.

Žužul also pointed out that Croatia is working on preparing its justice for the taking over of the Tribunal’s cases and that he is especially pleased that Tribunal’s President Meron recognised Croatia’s efforts to that end. Since 1992, Croatian justice has dealt with some 1500 cases of war crimes. Minister Žužul mentioned the case of gen. Mirko Norac, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison. This is a proof that the Croatian courts are capable of doing their job professionally and impartially.

Minister Žužul said that Croatia fully supports the ending of Tribunal’s activities, as stated in Security Council’s Resolutions 1503 and 1534. Žužul concluded his speech repeating once again that Croatia is aware of the importance of co-operating with the Tribunal and will continue to meet its obligations to the best of its ability.

To the members of the press Minister Žužul expressed his conviction that Croatia will receive the date for the start of the membership negotiations with the EU in December, despite Gen. Gotovina’s case being an obstacle in relations with the Hague Tribunal.