JUTARNJI LIST (ZAGREB), JULY 31 2004

Del Ponte - I'm shocked by the conduct of Ambassador Prosper

(Izvorni tekst)

Interview with Carla del Ponte: Ivan Zvonimir Čičak

Gotovina case

(Translated from Croatian to English by Ivana Arapovic)

- Your friend whose picture hangs on your wall. Together with Karadjic, Mladic, and "your other favorites." How do you comment the fact that the US Ambassador for War Crimes Prosper offered to Gotovina through an interview in Vecernji list the meeting and discussion about righteousness of the court at any place in the world and any time [he chooses]?

Del Ponte: I'm surprised and shocked. I can't imagine that the US Ambassador for War Crimes offers through a newspaper or in any other way the meeting and discussion to a fugitive accused of war crimes who's wanted by the whole world. 

- Isn't it in some way a continuation of what president Mesic previously attempted to do in Gotovina case?

Del Ponte: Gotovina has only one chance: to come here. When he comes, he'll be first interviewed by the prosecutors and that immediately. Remember, Gotovina is mentioned in the Security Council Resolution.

-Yes, but president Mesic recently stated in an interview for Feral that he was informed in advance by the Nacional's director and owner that he would go for an interview with Gotovina. Instead of undertaking certain legal measures, Mesic only requested from Pukanic to see the interview before its publication. According to Mesic's statement, Pukanic submitted him the interview a day before publication. You're talking about resolutions and other documents of international community on Gotovina case, but Prosper and Mesic are acting just contrarily to those documents.  What do you say about it?

Del Ponte: I can't say anything about it except what I already said about Prosper case. I don't want to be dragged in any way into political arena and politics. That's politics. President Mesic was assuring us that he was trying to help in bringing Gotovina to The Hague. However, let's try to turn toward the future. It's without question that Gotovina cannot be in any way in Zagreb. He must come first to The Hague, begin the process here, and the Tribunal will then decide about his subsequent fate.

- Excuse me, but in the interview in Vecernjak Prosper offered to Gotovina even home detention in Zagreb.

Del Ponte: That's absurd.

- If Gotovina arrives and if he surrenders voluntarily, will you oppose his release from custody?

Del Ponte: Yes. Someone who avoided over the years to surrender by evading justice cannot expect from me not to oppose his release from custody. I'll oppose revocation of custody for Gotovina. 

(Translated: August 10, 2004 by I.A.)

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VECERNJI LIST (ZAGREB), JULY 24, 2004

Interview with Pierre-Richard Prosper, the head of the Office for War Crimes in the State Department

(Originalni tekst)

By Jadranka Jureško Kero

(…)

VL: ...what's your official position in "Gotovina case"?

Prosper: It's clear. Mr Gotovina needs to appear before The Hague and nothing else can be added here. Of course, no one is guilty before being proven so, but by running away from the curt and indictment, Gotovina created a perception of being guilty. Actually only the men guilty of something are hiding. He, as a honorable man, should have come to The Hague and said what he got to say in his defense and might have already walked freely in his country. Gotovina himself created the case of himself and made his position more difficult and harmed the interests of his country. American position is clear and I repeated it several times. We want all The Hague's indictees to seek justice before the tribunal.

VL: Who's that authority who will guarantee to Gotovina that his legal proceedings will begin as soon as he arrives to The Hague, or that he will not wait over the years like General Blaskic, and then get the verdict that scandalizes all unbiased judges and attorneys at law in the world. 

Prosper: Here, I personally guarantee to General Gotovina that there would be no delays in commencing the process and that he can be reassured when it's about that. But if Gotovina wants to talk about all that bothers him or about his doubts about the righteousness of the process and similar, I'm ready to sit down and come to an agreement with the General. That case must be resolved before the court and every postponement will harm Gotovina and Croatia.

VL: Where are you ready to talk with Gotovina and what would you offer to him?

Prosper: Let him choose the place and time, only if he says that he's ready to appear before The Hague. We can agree upon many things if we have time and good will for a discussion. For example, Gotovina could wait for the trial in Croatian prison, even in home detention. I don't understand why he doesn't want to remove the blur of being a fugitive and accused. If he's not guilty and he knows it, the easiest for him would be to defend himself in The Hague and continue to live peacefully. 

VL: You, ambassador, are an optimistic person, and if I may notice, you approach the problems in a specific American way. Actually, not everything is soluble through a discussion because Gotovina's indictment has some articles which call over the Croatian people and former government, and that by the words that are not diplomatic. 

Prosper: I cannot comment on the indictments, praise or attack the prosecutors. I can help in that that the Croatian cooperation with The Hague is brought to the maximum, maning  that General Gotovina coms to The Hague. Who says that Gotovina wouldn’t with his evidence refute in several days all the evidence that the prosecution has? It's not serious to talk what would happen if it happened. All that's necessary is that General Gotovina finally appears and decides to come before the court. If it would be easier fot him in that decision-making process to speak with me, I repeat I'm prepared to listen to the General and see what we can do together so to solve that case.

VL: The US presidential elections are in three months. You were appointed by President Bush in person and does it mean that you will leave this duty if the candidate of the Democrats wins? In point of fact, do you have enough time for the "goodwill offers" to the Serbian authorities and Croatian indictees?

Prosper: I knew you'd ask me that. There's always time if there's will. Yes, I'm the man of George Bush junior's administration and if he loses presidential elections, I'm leaving as well. That's completely clear. If Bush junior wins the next mandate, then he shall decide if I'll still be in the Office for War Crimes in the State Department. It's true that the elections can slow down some processes, but I'm convinced that Serbia can show very quickly if it wants the cooperation and improvements in its country, as well as that several days are enough to solve "Gotovina case" if the General wants it.

VL: Have you read just published Clinton's book and his reflections about Operation Storm?

Prosper: I don't read Clinton's books and I don't know anything about it.

VL: Perhaps, if Kerry wins, "Gotovina case" will have a different ending?

Prosper: I doubt that any American government can proceed differently from what we ask when it's about the cooperation with The Hague.

VL: According to a new Security Council Resolution, so-called exit strategy, The Hague tribunal should close the door forever by the end of 2010. What if Gotovina will not be arrested by that time or doesn't surrender himself to Carla del Ponte?

Prosper: We will then propose to the Security Council a new resolution and ask the extension of the tribunal's work. One can't count on automatic solutions of all the cases by ceasing of functioning of the court.  The indictments are raised and they need to be processed, that is refuted if there are legal elements for that.

I MIGHT VISIT PAKOŠTANE

  • Ambassador, have you thought that for better understanding of "Gotovina case" it would be good to visit Zadar, Pakoštane and the regions where the General led the war and lived, and speak to the people about what they think about their hero?  – Yes, that's not perhaps a bad idea. Let Gotovina come in touch with me, and we'll make an agreement. I completely understand people's emotions and I know that they're still sensitive to the war events, but there are the laws and agreements that we must respect. Many told me about the beauty of the Croatian coast and I'm sure that it would be a true rest, but I'm too busy to think about it. • When are you visiting Croatia officially? – I'm arranging my visit with the Croatian authorities and I think that could be in the fall.

(Translated: August 10 2004 by I.A.)