Int'l investigation should come before measures on Syria: former Croatian president

ZAGREB, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Former Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said on Monday that an independent international investigative body would have to check the allegations of using chemical weapons in Syria before measures on the country.

"I think it was supposed that an independent international investigative body would have to check the allegations of using chemical weapons. Collective measures should have been taken only when it was confirmed that chemical weapons were used," Josipovic said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

He added, "Of course, in this case, it would be worth assessing whether the military option is the only one. I want the conflict to end as soon as possible and that Syria begins peaceful development. It is necessary to stop all combat activities, to enter into peace negotiations and to deal with war crimes that have been committed, no matter who committed them. "

Meanwhile, Croatian parliament member Ivan Pernar published on his Facebook account an open letter to the U.S. Embassy in Zagreb in which he criticized the U.S.-led airstrike against Syria.

Pernar accused the U.S. government of serving a hidden "shadow government" that is controlled by the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, and that the airstrikes against Syria were only an attempt to continue the U.S. dominance in the Middle East.

Pernar also said in his open letter that the U.S. claims that its interest is to spread "democracy and freedom" are lies and accused the U.S. of "not caring" about the Palestinian people.

According to local newspaper NOVI LIST, the reaction of Facebook users to Pernar's letter were "very favorable." Enditem