Ministry spokesman Zlatko Mehun told Hina that what the media was talking about was not a survey but a memo sent by the ministry to police departments, which he added was usual for police work.
"This is a secret operative document whose content cannot be discussed," Mehun said, adding that on several occasions in the past already, the Police Directorate requested police departments to carry out a comprehensive search for Gotovina.
Mehun said the latest act by the Police Directorate showed there were police employees who were willing to reveal secret information to the public, thus committing the crime of disclosing a state secret.
According to the Interior Ministry, such actions undermine investigations as well as the reputation of the ministry and the professional dignity of police officers.
Mehun dismissed the media's speculation that the document was an idea of the newly appointed interior minister.
Jutarnji List said in today's issue that the survey was being conducted due to the absence of any results in the search for Gotovina.
The ministry said the article was aimed at discrediting police work in the collection of data about certain cases, including that of the runaway general.