ZAGREB, May 25 (Hina) - The teachers' trade union, called Preporod, has severely slammed the decision that the Croatian parliament's award called "Gold Coat of Arms" be conferred on the parliament's vice-presidents, Vlatko Pavletic
and Baltazar Jalsovec. According to a statement released by the union on Sunday, the decision to give the awards and 100,000 kuna each to Pavletic and Jalsovec is "unprecedented example of a political bad taste and of devaluation of moral and social values."
ZAGREB, May 25 (Hina) - The teachers' trade union, called Preporod,
has severely slammed the decision that the Croatian parliament's
award called "Gold Coat of Arms" be conferred on the parliament's
vice-presidents, Vlatko Pavletic and Baltazar Jalsovec. According
to a statement released by the union on Sunday, the decision to give
the awards and 100,000 kuna each to Pavletic and Jalsovec is
"unprecedented example of a political bad taste and of devaluation
of moral and social values." #L#
"The citation that Pavletic deserves the award as he transferred
authorities in a peaceful manner is the egregious case of political
cynicism and hypocrisy, an I ask those who voted for this selection
(of laureates) whether it means that the transfer of powers in a
democratic country should be conducted in some different manner?,"
said Vinko Filipovic, the leader of the teachers' union.
According the statement, the case of Jalsovac also deserves
criticism given that "Jalsovec is known for his controversial
speech in Bleiburg and for making his remaining in the ruling
coalition conditional on retaining the office of the Sabor's vice-
president".
If those two men are awarded for their contribution to promotion of
parliamentarism and democracy, one can wonder about the profile of
other MPs who have not been given the award, Filipovic wrote in the
statement.
In addition, it is arrogant and socially insensitive to award gold
coins, worth more than 10,000 kuna and 100,000 kuna in cash,
collected from money of tax payers, per laureate in a country where
over 100,000 citizens are living on welfare and where a few hundred
thousand pensioners hardly make ends meet, the statement said.
Last Friday it was announced that the Croatian parliament's "Gold
Coat of Arms" award for contribution to the development of
parliamentarism, democracy and human rights, would be bestowed on
the two current Sabor vice-presidents, Vlatko Pavletic and
Baltazar Jalsovec, and the non-governmental organisation GONG. MPs
chose the winners by a majority vote at a parliamentary session, at
the proposal by the committee presenting this award.
The award will be bestowed on laureates this year for the first
time, at a special parliamentary session on 30 May, the Day of the
Croatian Parliament.
The "Gold Coat of Arms" is to be awarded once a year to two
individuals and one legal person. The award consists of a
medallion, gold coin, and 100,000 kuna per winner.
(hina) ms