Statements by the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) that they consider this right-wing party a desirable coalition partner bear witness to political irresponsibility and "the madness of political relativism", Pupovac said.
If Prime Minister Ivo Sanader sticks to this position and supports the segregation which Djapic advocates, we will interpret it as his giving up on the European project that he launched together with us, as well as on the government's minority policy, Pupovac said and added that the SDSS could not support such a policy.
Pupovac expressed confidence that Sanader had a strong sense of responsibility towards his government and policy, adding that the fact that the two strongest parties in Croatia had failed to comment on Djapic's statement was very alarming.
Pupovac reiterated that he was a member of the national committee for the monitoring of negotiations with the EU.
"I would like someone in Croatia to say openly - 'Dear Serbs, you are good for Europe but not for Croatia'," Pupovac said.
He accused the HDZ of going back to the old policy, citing as an example the town of Knin, where he said the HDZ was preparing to form a coalition with the Croatian Bloc (HB) party despite the fact that the SDSS had supported the HDZ in its conflict with the HB in the town of Knin and Sibenik-Knin County.
He said that political stability and inter-ethnic tolerance were being tested in Knin, which was why the SDSS did not consider the forming of a local coalition with the HB only a matter of autonomy of party branches.
Pupovac also expressed concern about what he called an irresponsible media campaign that contributed to the growth of intolerance.
He particularly criticised Croatian Television, saying that some people were turning it into a private medium and using it to foment hatred towards him and the policy and community that he represented.
"If somebody is putting me in the context of the Chetnik movement, it is not only insulting, but incites hatred," Pupovac said.