"We most vehemently condemn such behaviour, which is absolutely inappropriate and not in keeping with the democratic standards that present-day Croatia applies," Government spokesman Ratko Macek said.
He announced the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) would sanction its member and Zadar City Council chairman Davor Aras for addressing the gathering at the Croatian Youth Home building. He said no HDZ member could act contrary to the party's political interests, goals or platform.
About 50 people took part in the gathering, which was held in a hall displaying the photos of Pavelic and Ante Gotovina, the fugitive general wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. A policeman standing outside the hall did nothing about the gathering, which was also addressed by the leader of the Party of Rights' (HSP) local branch, Danijel Kotlar.
After the gathering, about 30 participants walked through downtown Zadar carrying a photo of Pavelic, wearing black and displaying Ustasha insignia.
According to Hrvatski Domobran leaders Zeljko Stipic and Pavao Milkovic, the gathering was held in remembrance of the victims of the first public protest against the newly created Yugoslav federation, held in Zagreb in December 1918. An official report stated that 13 people were killed and 17 were wounded in the clashes.