A fugitive Croatian general, wanted by the United Nations war crimes tribunal since 2001, has offered to surrender if he can be tried by a Croatian court, according to a letter by his lawyer published today.
The tribunal prosecution's spokeswoman said the proposal had arrived but would not be considered.
Ante Gotovina, whose fugitive status weighs heavily on Croatia's progress towards European Union membership, told Luxembourg, which holds the rotating EU presidency, he was ready for a "conditional surrender", the Vecernji List daily reported.
The daily published a facsimile of the letter, sent by Gotovina's lawyer on January 5th to Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, who forwarded it to the tribunal.
Luxembourg is due to decide in the next two months if Croatia is fully cooperating with the tribunal and can therefore start EU accession talks on March 17th as planned.
"There is no way we consider such a proposal," tribunal spokeswoman Mr Hartmann said. "It's a matter of principle. We do not negotiate with an accused at large."