Priopćenje povodom članka novinara Neila MacDonalda objavljenog u britanskom dnevniku „Financial Times“

Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova i europskih integracija Republike Hrvatske priopćuje da je tijekom dana Veleposlanstvo Republike Hrvatske u Londonu kontaktiralo uredništvo „Financial Times“ koje se ispričalo se za objavljivanje neistinitih navoda u članku te ga se obvezalo povući.

Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova i europskih integracija putem Veleposlanstva Republike Hrvatske u Londonu reagiralo je navedeni članak i odmah po objavi dostavilo demanti uredništvu „Financial Timesa“ kojim odbacuje navode iz članka kao neistinite, a kojeg prenosimo u nastavku u cijelosti i u izvorniku:

Sir, the FT.com article by Mr. MacDonald “Croatia courts Serbia in bid to win EU backing”, July 20, contains misinformation coupled with arbitrary interpretation of what he had been told in an interview with the Croatian Prime Minister and government officials. These are very damaging for the painstakingly built credibility of the Croatian Government, as well as of the Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor with whom the Government closely cooperated. FT.com claims rather astonishingly, that gen Gotovina, who had been indicted by the Hague Tribunal, voluntarily surrendered. It is a notorious fact (well documented, televised and widely broadcast) that the fugitive was arrested, following a highly sophisticated joint intelligence and police operation involving secret services of several countries. It is therefore obvious that the arrest was not a consequence of quiet negotiations, but rather of a quiet work in identifying, locating and arresting the fugitive from justice.

The Croatian prime minister has never urged the international community not to isolate Belgrade, because no one wants to isolate Belgrade, nor has he ever condoned the Serbian military and secret police for their support for a war criminal Mladic, as your article suggests. The military and the secret services in democratic countries should serve the governments only. Mladic must be arrested and brought to justice, and Serbia will benefit.

Serbia is facing a hugely difficult challenge of making a choice between prosperity that the future in Europe can bring and the misery of remaining stuck in the past. Nowadays, the democratic, pro-European forces of Serbia need all kinds of support in facing and overcoming the difficulties of this challenge. While firmly maintaining high principles of democracy and the rule of law, the international community should avoid destabilizing Serbia. That is what the Croatian PM said and stood for in every public and private appearance in London this week.