TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF WAR INVALIDS ASSOCIATION

ZAGREB, April 25 (Hina) - "Croatian war veterans are aware that they are not being valued, because laws have been passed against them," the president of the Croatian Homeland War Invalids (HVIDR) association, Damir Varazdinac, said at a ceremony marking the tenth anniversary of the association on Thursday. #L# That is why the HVIDR, which gathers more than 330,000 members, is very much needed, Varazdinac said at the commemoration that gathered around a hundred members and guests. HVIDR members were greeted by envoys of the President of the Republic, the Sabor President, the Veterans' Ministry, and the Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministries. Nevertheless, war veterans were dissatisfied because the highest state officials did not attend. "It is sad that in the past years the entire government would attend HVIDR commemorations, including the President of the Republic, and yet today not even the Veterans' or Defence Ministers attended," former HVIDR president Marinko Liovic said. He criticised President Stjepan Mesic and Veterans' Minister Ivica Pancic for their attitude towards veterans. The president of the Association of Homeland Pride and Honour, Janko Bobetko, advised defenders that they needed to be louder and not beg for their rights because they deserved them. "We are all on the defendant's bench, should we have lost the war so they could leave us be?," Bobetko asked. The President's envoy, Neven Ivak, said that in the past ten years the HVIDR had been expressing dissatisfaction and at times chose no means to direct it towards the government. "The President listens to criticisms, particularly those by war veterans, but he will not tolerate uncivilised attacks by individuals who tarnish the reputation of Croatian war veterans," Ivak said and called for dialogue with the government. (hina) sp sb