Zagreb (IKA) – In response to an interview with the chief prosecutor of the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Carla Del Ponte, published in the Internet edition of the Daily Telegraph on September 20, in which assertions are made that the fugitive General Ante Gotovina “is hiding in a Franciscan monastery, so that the Catholic Church is protecting him,” and that she has “taken this up with the Vatican and the Vatican refuses totally to cooperate,” the head of the Press Office of the Croatian Conference of Bishops has issued a statement that we present in its entirety:

“We refute the accusations made by Mrs. Carla Del Ponte against the Holy See and the Catholic Church in Croatia in their entirety and are of the opinion that they put forward a whole series of unacceptable theories that would even seem extraordinary for a colloquial conversation, not to mention for the high authority that she represents. The leadership of the Catholic Church in Croatia has no knowledge whatsoever or any indication where the fugitive General Gotovina could be. It is clear to us that the chief prosecutor at The Hague, for who knows what reasons, is “frustrated” so that we could ascribe her allegations to such a state. However, it is entirety unusual in such a manner, and this via the media, without foundation and in a sweeping condemnation, to admonish the highest representatives of the Holy See, including Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic episcopate in Croatia. For such assertions by the chief prosecutor, the international community that appointed her to serve on The Hague Tribunal should finally be invited to provide an explanation to the Catholic Church and the Republic of Croatia.”