Speaking in a telephone interview with Croatian Television from Budapest, Bosnjakovic said that the findings of the Croatian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office (DORH) would certainly have an impact on the proceedings before the State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for his extradition to Serbia.

The DORH said on Thursday that the results of preliminary inquiries and other investigative steps showed that there were no grounds for launching criminal proceedings against Purda.

Purda was arrested in Bosnia and Herzegovina at a border crossing with Croatia on January 5 based on a warrant issued by Serbia, which wants him on war crimes charges. Croatia had not formally requested his extradition, while Serbia did so on Friday.

When asked if he could guarantee that Purda would not be tried in Serbia, Bosnjakovic said he could not, but stressed that he believed that would not happen.

Responding to questions from the TV host, the minister said that Purda was not left "at the tender mercies" of Serbia, adding that he deeply believed in the DORH's assessment that there were no grounds for the criminal prosecution of Purda.

Bosnjakovic said that under the law on international legal aid and an agreement between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the important requirements for the approval of a person's extradition is the existence of sufficient evidence for a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed, which he said did not exist in this case.