The European Commission has called on Croatia to exercise caution in considering a bill declaring null and void all legal documents of the former Yugoslav People's Army and the judicial bodies of the former Yugoslav federation and the Republic of Serbia in which Croatian nationals are suspects, indictees or convicts.

Peter Stano, spokesman for Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele, said the EC was aware of the Croatian government's bill which was being considered by the parliament and which was endorsed by its Justice Committee on Tuesday. The EC calls for caution and careful consideration in the adoption of the law in such a sensitive area, Stano said, underlining the importance of not jeopardising regional cooperation in the prosecution of war crimes.

Asked about the EC's position on whether Serbian indictments against Croatian citizens were legally founded, Stano had no comment.

The Croatian parliament's committee on justice yesterday endorsed the government's bill declaring null and void all legal acts of the former Yugoslav People's Army and the judicial bodies of the former Yugoslav federation and the Republic of Serbia in which Croatian nationals are suspects, indictees or convicts.

President's Office: Josipovic didn't know about Serbian indictments

President Ivo Josipovic did not know about the Serbian indictments at the time they were issued, but requested information about them from relevant institutions after their existence was made public, his office said in a statement on Wednesday.

Responding to questions from the media about the statement by Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor that the President had known about the indictments, the President's Office said that it was true what the Prime Minister said that the President did not have the authority to act on indictments.

"The Prime Minister does not have such authority either. However, the issue of indictments is an important political issue on which depend the rule of law, the protection of veterans from judicial abuse and politicisation of responsibility for war crimes, relations in the region, and many other important issues. And that is within the authority of both the Government and the President of the Republic," the statement said.

It is of paramount importance for Croatia to protect every citizen who has been groundlessly accused of war crimes, but also to remain committed to the principle that every crime has to be punished regardless of who committed it. It is important for Croatia to act in such a way as to ensure that the positive processes in the region continue, the statement said.

"The Republic of Croatia can and must respond to the indictments from Serbia much better and more effectively. The bill declaring the Serbian indictments null and void is a political message by Croatia that indicates the unacceptability of those indictments in the light of agreements between the public prosecutors' offices of the two countries and political messages that arise from them. But that bill will not bring true protection to our citizens, possibly just the contrary. The legal effects of such a bill are nearly non-existent and will unfavourably affect the security of our citizens abroad. The political messages, which we are sending not just to Serbia but also to the world, are not unequivocal and may cause serious political damage," the statement said.

"The President of the Republic recommends to the Government and Parliament not to pass this bill, but to immediately start work on concluding a serious international treaty that will prevent any abuse of war crimes prosecution and ensure that no crime remains unpunished," the President's Office said.
'Regional Development of SE Europe'