Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said on Thursday that Croatia would resolve on its own possible crimes committed before 2002, dismissing criticism that a bill of amendments to the law on judicial cooperation in criminal matters with EU member states, namely the implementation of the European arrest warrant, had been tailored to fit the needs of one individual.
"It is in Croatia's interest to resolve what took place before 2002 on its own, and not through others," Milanovic said at the start of today's session of the government.
No laws, particularly not those regulating international legal aid and execution of the European arrest warrant, are tailored to suit one individual, Milanovic said, dismissing assessments that changes were adopted to meet the needs of former head of secret services Josip Perkovic.
The amendments that the government sent to parliament envisage that the European arrest warrant would apply only to crimes committed after 7 August 2002. European warrants would not apply to Perkovic who was charged by a German court with murdering Croatian emigrant Stjepan Djurekovic, as Djurekovic was murdered in 1983.
Milanovic said that the amendments, drafted by a group of various judicial experts, have their own rationale.
The PM recalled that Croatia had the Homeland Defence War in which "ugly things happened, on our side as well"
