US concern over Croatia talks

The US is concerned over the start of Croatia’s EU entry talks and questions Zagreb’s cooperation with war crime investigators.

Seven indicted war crimes suspects wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia are still at large including the Croatian General Ante Gotovina.

Senior US state official Kurt Volker on Friday expressed Washington concerns Croatia had been allowed to begin EU negotiations while Gotovina remains free.

“The decision to begin talks with Croatia, in the absence of Gotovina is a source of concern,” he told reporters.

“The issue of bringing war criminals to justice in the Hague is still unresolved – some ten years after the conflict ended.”

'Difficult position'

Washington says the EU was backed into a corner by UN chief prosecutor, Carle Del Ponte’s conclusion that Croatia is "fully cooperating" with the war crimes tribunal.

“The condition for the start of talks with Croatia, was full co-operation with the task force. Del Ponte found this to be the case and the EU was put in a difficult position,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Volker insisted.

Del Ponte’s findings paved the way for EU entry talks as Croatia was found to be doing all it could to locate and arrest Gotovina.

“Del Ponte says there has been co-operation on war criminals. But the fact is, we still do not know where Gotovina is,” Volker added.  

“We do not want anybody in the Balkans to draw the conclusion that their work is now done. No one should draw false conclusions from [the start of EU entry talks.] We do not want that to become the view in Serbia either.”

No NATO ties

Washington’s tough talking on Croatia follows its decision to block stronger NATO ties until suspected war criminals are brought to justice.

“At talks in Paris, Berlin and Brussels, I have been assured that I am over-reacting; Europe says Gotovina remains part of the EU’s decision and talks will not conclude unless the issue is resolved,” Volker explained.

“But we are being very clear – we will not support Croatia in NATO until this is resolved.”

Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Nicholas Burns set out the US line on NATO expansion earlier this week.

“The message is very clear, Croatia will not become a member of NATO until [Gotovina] is arrested and sent to The Hague, and Serbia will not become a member of [a NATO partnership] until Mladic is,” Burns stressed on Tuesday.

“NATO has to hold this line on these war criminals. We can't forget and we cannot let these war criminals off the hook.”

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