ZAGREB, April 2 (Hina) - The president of the association of disabled war veterans from the Homeland Defence War (HVIDR-a), said on Wednesday that his association did not need any funds from the war veterans ministry, if this would
imply conditions would be imposed on the society's activities.
ZAGREB, April 2 (Hina) - The president of the association of
disabled war veterans from the Homeland Defence War (HVIDR-a), said
on Wednesday that his association did not need any funds from the
war veterans ministry, if this would imply conditions would be
imposed on the society's activities. #L#
Damir Varazdinac told HINA this while commenting on a statement by
Minister Ivica Pancic who said in Split earlier in the day that
HVIDR-a would not get a penny from the ministry unless it expressed
its stand on complying with the rule of law, i.e. on an agreement
reached in March 2001 by the said ministry and the co-ordinating
body of associations of war veterans, except HVIDR-a.
"HVIDR-a will not sign the agreement which Minister Pancic has
mentioned, as it is without any concrete content and commits
nobody," Varazdinec said.
The society's leader believes it cannot get funds as it is regarded
as not politically suitable, and this is what the association
cannot accept, he said.
The HVIDR-a is asking for financial support to projects it has
proposed and nothing more, Varazdinec explained.
He said the HVIDR-a, which was established in 1992 and has now 107
branches and over 33,000 members, would survive even without the
ministry's funds.
The HVIDR-a has always advocated the rights of war veterans and
their protection, no matter who was in power, independently of the
former or incumbent authorities, Varazdinec said accusing Pancic
of withholding funds in order to close the association down.
(hina) ms sb