Cook: Balkan mission moves to Croatia

Cook Takes Democracy Message to Croatia

Mr Cook delivered his blunt message in a meeting with the Croatia president, Franjo Tudjman. He also held talks with opposition, on the last day of his visit to the former Yugoslavia.

During his flying visit to the former Yugoslavia, Mr Cook has consistently taken a tough line with all the politicians who have influence over the progress of the provisions of the Dayton Accord.

The Foreign Secretary is particularly concerned over the surrender of suspected war criminals to the international criminal tribunal in The Hague.

In his meeting with the Croatian leader, Mr Cook pressed President Tudjman to help bring alleged war criminals to justice

"I want to make sure that those who have been charged, should they enter Croatia, or should they be in the Croat part of Bosnia-Herzegovina, are handed over for trial at The Hague," he said.

"It is very important, if we are going to build reconciliation in Bosnia, that those who committed atrocities are brought to justice," he insisted.

Mr Cook also pressed the Croatian government to hasten the progress of allowing refugees to return to their pre-war homes. Zagreb has been under pressure to allow the return of 180,000 Serbs who fled Croatian government offensives in 1995.

The Foreign Secretary warned that access to international finance could be linked to progress on refugee returns and a free media. Earlier this month, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund both suspended loans to Croatia.

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