1. Although the Croatian courts based their refusal to hand Walaschek over on legal grounds, U.S. and Croatian officials familiar with the case say the decision had political overtones. 2. An automatic signaling device on the plane that should have immediately sent up the radio equivalent of a flare did not work, Croatian officials said. 3. Any trial of Sakic is certain to be highly divisive and emotional, publicizing Ustashe atrocities that some Croatian officials would prefer remain ignored. 4. Both Croatian officials and bankers have said they hope to reach agreement soon. 5. A Croatian official asserted Friday that Russian-made surface-to-air missiles recently used by Bosnian Serbs in the Bihac region were smuggled into the area through Montenegro. 6. Bosnian Serb leaders have also refused to meet Muslim and Croatian officials since the two Bosnian Serb officers were detained. 7. But Croatian officials, after an appeal by U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry, persuaded Blaskic to turn himself over to the court earlier this year. 8. But Croatian officials complain that it is unfair to pressure them without doing the same to the Serbs. 9. Confusion reigned, with US and Croatian officials offering differing locations for the crash site. 10. Croatian officials are serene, saying that they have no intention of starting a war. |