Croatia Does Not Need `Sabre` Operation

The Croatian PM pointed out that Croatia does not have the legal framework to implement the Sabre operation, or the need to.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – After the assassination of Ivo Pukanic and a two-hour sitting of the Croatian National Security Council (VONS), attended by Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and all heads of Parliamentary parties, the conclusion was that Croatia does not need to implement the “Sabre” operation, like the one conducted in Serbia after the murder of prime minister Zoran Djindjic. Prime Minister Sanader gave the sole explanation that they had no legal framework for it.

- Emergency rule should not be introduced to Croatia, but we will mobilise everything else- From courts, the police, introducing DNA analysis for all prisoners, prompter USKOK courts [Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime] – Sanader said.

In addition, the sitting reiterated the draft of the anti-mafia law, while the first version of the law is supposed to be presented to the Croatian public on Wednesday at the Parliament.

- We will deal with organised crime, mafia and terrorism all the way – Sanader said.

After the emergency sitting ended, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said that the measures agreed on during the previous VONS sitting were being implemented; however, an act has occurred with characteristics of “terrorism and mafia showdown, crime of the first sort”.

- We appeal the courts for court processed to be carried out with more speed and efficiency, while USKOK courts are being prepared which will deal with organised crime and corruption – Sanader repeated.

Both the PM and the president welcomed the consensus among political parties, pointing out that there is no competition between parties in moments like these.

- The message to the public is that we will deal with organised crime, mafia or terrorism all the way, no matter how this case is characterised after an investigation. Croatia will be a safe country – the PM stressed his message.

- A new institute is being introduced, where assets that are possibly obtained through corruption are in question, the person in question must prove the origin of their assets – Mesic added.

- We have reached some conclusions, but the most important thing is that we have reached a consensus, because all party presidents who represent their members in the Parliament were at the sitting. Consensus has been reached on Croatian strategic interests, which are NATO and EU accession and the functioning of this state with its mechanisms – Mesic pointed out.