Croatia's Gen Gotovina willing to meet ICTY investigators in Zagreb.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

Text of interview with General Ante Gotovina by Ivo Pukanic; place and date not given: "Ante Gotovina: I recognize the Hague Tribunal", published by Croatian newspaper Nacional on 10 June; subheadings as published

Several days ago, I met Gen Ante Gotovina. It was an opportunity for us to have a lengthy discussion of questions that are of interest to the Croatian public and that affect General Gotovina's current position. A relaxed and concentrated Ante Gotovina responded to a number of my questions concerning why he disappeared from public life two years ago and what his perspective is on the events that preceded his decision. We also talked about his role in the operations around the time of, during, and after Operation Storm, as well as the steps that he took that were critical to the signing of the Dayton Agreement and the end of the wars in Croatia and B-H [Bosnia-Hercegovina]. Ante Gotovina did not give the impression of someone who is a fugitive and who is afraid of being arrested. On the contrary, he was calm and seemed vigorous and in good physical and mental condition, and he also said that he is willing to officially clarify his stance towards the indictment by the Hague Tribunal if he is given the opportunity to do so.

I read a lot

[Pukanic] How do you spend your days as a fugitive for whom the Hague Tribunal has issued an arrest warrant?

[Gotovina] I do not regard myself as a fugitive. In the difficult situation in which I currently find myself, the most important thing is that one's head remain completely clear. Mental health is also connected to physical strength, and I am working hard on that. I get up rather early, I exercise, have breakfast, and then I read. I have read lots of books over these two years and learned a lot. At no point have I given in to despair, because I know that I can weather these difficult times through persistence and by working on myself. Awareness of my innocence and the knowledge that one day I will again be able to live normally in Croatia with my family and friends give me the patience and strength to carry on, because I am certain that the truth will win out in the end. And presenting the truth is the only thing that can help me return to a normal life.

[Pukanic] How are you and your family enduring the separation and pressure?

[Gotovina] Everyone bears his own cross, and my family is also bearing part of my cross but is willing to endure that with me as long as is necessary in order for the truth to be established. We do not want to complain. We are guided by the knowledge that we will be back together in the end. We accept the current situation realistically. We cannot escape the situation imposed on us, but we will certainly not seek mercy from anyone. Mercy is sought only by those who are guilty. I have been accused of things that I fundamentally oppose and that are alien to my being. But is that not the paradox of life? Ever since I joined the Foreign Legion as a youth, I have lived in a multiethnic community, and I learned to respect the diversity of nations, cultures and races. I am a soldier, but soldierly conduct does not allow for any sort of indulgence in base instincts directed at people, it does not allow one to senselessly destroy and burn houses and expel people.

[Pukanic] If you are not guilty of anything, why have you run away from the Hague Tribunal?

[Gotovina] I was presented with a fait accompli. The day before the indictment and the arrest warrant were announced, I found out what was in store for me from private channels. Should I have waited for them to throw me into prison, completely innocent, where I would helplessly wait to see what would become of me? Prior to that, no-one from the former government told me what was in store for me and that The Hague wanted to talk to me. Nor has anyone from the current government informed me of that since 2000. If it had been suggested that I talk to Hague investigators in Zagreb, as was the case with Generals Markac and Stipetic, then I would have responded immediately.

[Pukanic] Does that mean that you recognize the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia? Thus far the impression has been that you do not recognize The Hague.

[Gotovina] Well of course I recognize the Hague Tribunal, just as I recognize the rule of law. I have never questioned the legitimacy of that court. Since an indictment has been brought against me, I know that I must prove my innocence before…