ZAGREB (AFP)-Bosnian Croat war crimes suspect, Mladen Naletilic, whose extradition has been held up by ill health, could be taken to the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague on Tuesday.
Naletilic, 53, also known as "Tuta", was indicted by the ICTY in December 1998, for war crimes committed during the 1993-94 Muslim-Croat conflicts in Bosnia, particularly in the divided Bosnian town of Mostar.
Paul Risley, a spokesperson for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia [ICTY], was quoted in Jutarnji List, as saying that preparations for Naletilic's transport to The Hague were complete, and he was expected to arrive very soon.
Meanwhile, Vecernji List daily reported Sunday, quoting reliable sources, that Naletilic's extradition might take place "at the beginning of next week, probably on Tuesday."
He has been in custody in Croatia since 1997 and was hospitalized in Zagreb last October, undergoing two heart bypass operations. His Croatian doctors said on February 10 that they did not believe he would survive a trip to the Netherlands, though doctors appointed by the tribunal maintained that he was well enough to make the trip provided suitable medical care was available.
Risley was quoted as saying that the tribunal had given all the necessary guarantees for Naletilic's transport to the Netherlands, where he said he would probably be placed in a hospital rather than in custody.
The ICTY first requested Naletilic's extradition 1998. Croatian authorities had been reluctant to hand over Naletilic to the tribunal, straining relations between the country and the court.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister, Ivica Racan said, Naletilic would probably be tried in Croatia, but Zagreb eventually agreed he could be extradited. Croatia's Foreign Minister, Tonino Picula said Friday, that Zagreb was ready to extradite Naletilic if suitable medical treatment was guaranteed.
"If we get guarantees ... if an adequate form of transport is provided he can go to The Hague," said Picula. The country's newly elected pro-European government has pledged to cooperate closely with the ICTY.
