ZAGREB, April 12 (Hina) - The Croatian Reconstruction, Public Works and Construction Ministry on Friday night reacted to a statement issued by deputy ombudsman Marta Vidakovic, stating that "neither in written or oral form had the
ombudsman ever informed Minister Radimir Cacic about difficulties he faced in the cooperation of certain ministry's administrations".
ZAGREB, April 12 (Hina) - The Croatian Reconstruction, Public Works
and Construction Ministry on Friday night reacted to a statement
issued by deputy ombudsman Marta Vidakovic, stating that "neither
in written or oral form had the ombudsman ever informed Minister
Radimir Cacic about difficulties he faced in the cooperation of
certain ministry's administrations". #L#
The parliamentary Committee for the Constitution and Rule Book on
April 8 adopted unanimously a report on the work of the ombudsman
for last year, with a harsh warning to ministries, especially the
Reconstruction, Public Works and Construction Ministry, for not
cooperating with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Vidakovic especially set aside the Public Works Ministry as the
only one which was still ignoring the Ombudsman's Office, since it
was established in 1996. She added that this practise continued
even after the change in authorities in 2000.
The Ministry statement, signed by spokeswoman Ivana Prohic,
stresses that "having learnt from the press about the
dissatisfaction of the ombudsman with cooperation by the
Ministry," Minister Cacic had "issued an urgent order to all
administrations to investigate and draw up reports for every
submitted request or query, which will be completed within seven
days".
The statement further said that "looking at information about
cooperation hitherto, it has been established that last year, of
the 32 requests received by the Administration for Reconstruction,
all had been replied to: one request was sent to the Administration
for Capital Infrastructure and Utilities and it was responded to by
passing on the request to the competent ministry, and of the 30
requests sent to the Administration for Refugees, Displaced
Persons and Returnees, only one had been replied to."
The Ministry said in the statement that "therefore, there is no
contest about the Ministry refusing to cooperate. The issue is
cooperation with only one administration," and "Minister Cacic
issued an order for all reasons for the lack of cooperation to be
investigated, and punitive measures be undertaken against those
responsible".
(hina) lml