GOVT. AWARDS BEST CROATIAN HANDBALL PLAYERS

ZAGREB, Feb 6 (Hina) - The Croatian government has decided to award 100,000 kuna (approximately 13,330 euros) to each of 17 handball players of the national team, to the selector and two chief coaches as well as 60,000 kuna (EUR8,000) to each of five members in the professional team who accompany the national team, for their first place at the World Handball Championships in Portugal. #L# The funds for the awards will be ensured from the current budgetary reserves. At the government's session on Thursday, Premier Ivica Racan recalled how the national team had won the world championships thanks to its unity, hard work and self-confidence and added that the handball players thus set an example to others in the country. The premier then condemned some scenes from the welcoming ceremony, prepared in honour of the national team on Monday in Zagreb's main square. He said this referred to the Fascist salute (made by a pop singer, Marko Perkovic alias Thompson). At the magnificent welcoming ceremony there were scenes which the world and the democratic Croatia have left behind. The Nazi salutes do not pass anywhere in the world, Racan said adding that such incidents had cast a shadow to the handball players' victory and smear the face of Croatia before Europe. A vast majority of citizens, athletes and handball players reject it and condemn those who caused the incident, as, he said, they do not allow that this might tarnish the splendid victory and celebrations. The government has granted 250,000 euros to help finance the 16th world championships of women handball players' national teams. The event will take place in six Croatian cities from 20 November to 14 December. (hina) ms sb