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| Europe |
| Croatia: Will Not Sign Court Deal with U.S. |
| 2003-06-12 |
| ZAGREB - Croatia refused on Thursday to sign an agreement with the United States exempting U.S. citizens from prosecution by the new world war crimes court, saying it wanted a separate deal with Washington. The United States has piled pressure on Croatia to sign the deal, threatening to cut off $19 million in military aid unless Zagreb agrees to the accord by July 1. "Croatia said an open 'No' to the agreement as has been presented, but it also said 'Yes' to further dialogue," Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic told state news agency Hina. Meanwhile, in a completely unrelated story, the State Department announced a $19 million grant to Bosnia, citing the sudden availability of funds. He said Zagreb was hoping to settle the issue through separate bilateral agreements with Washington. Zagreb officials voiced hope in May that Washington might consider exempting Croatia, together with other former Yugoslav republics falling under the jurisdiction of the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague, from signing the agreement. Croatia claims it would be unfair and immoral to refuse to hand over U.S. citizens, while surrendering its own war crimes suspects, many of whom are considered war heroes at home. Except that we prosecute our guys when they commit war crimes, and you don't. Simonovic held talks on the issue on Thursday with a U.S. delegation headed by senior State Department negotiator Marisa Lino. Under the terms of the so-called American Servicemembers Protection Act, Washington has vowed to cut off its military equipment and training assistance to countries that do not sign the agreement by July 1. Their assistance to Croatia amounts to some $19 million, but Simonovic said he believed the aid was already budgeted for this year and would not be immediately suspended. U.S. officials were not available for immediate comment. Since they were busy with the Excel spreadsheet with the FY 2003 budget. Washington, which fears that the new court will expose Americans to politically motivated prosecutions, has already signed non-surrender accords with 38 countries and is negotiating with others. NATO member countries and major U.S. non-NATO allies are not being asked to sign. |
| Posted by:Steve White |