SINJ, June 28 (Hina) - The Alka Knights Society (VAT) confirmed on Friday that its administrative board had requested a meeting with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic to inform him about preparations for this year's 287th Alka
mediaeval tournament.
SINJ, June 28 (Hina) - The Alka Knights Society (VAT) confirmed on
Friday that its administrative board had requested a meeting with
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic to inform him about preparations
for this year's 287th Alka mediaeval tournament. #L#
However, the society did not want to comment on media claims that
the meeting was an attempt to reconcile with Mesic after last year's
incident.
"Every year, for a long time, a delegation of the Alka Knights
Society has visited the President at this time of year to inform him
of all events regarding the Sinj Alka tournament. We want to
continue this tradition and respectfully expect the President to
inform us about the date and place of the meeting," reads a letter of
June 26, signed by Sinj mayor and VAD president Mate Jukic.
At last year's Alka tournament, President Mesic was booed at and his
envoy prevented from handing the President's gift to the winner of
the tournament. The winner, Ivica Peric, opposed the decision,
apologised to Mesic and visited him in Zagreb to receive his
present. The incident grew into an extremely politicised affair
resulting in a rift among Alka competitors and bringing into
question the sponsorship of the event, which traditionally belongs
to the President of the Republic.
Peric told Hina that "it is more than curious that the
administration of the Alka Knights Society, which a month ago was
President Mesic's opponent, is now asking him to accept sponsorship
of the tournament and inviting him to Sinj".
"Isn't this a plan to set up a new trap for the President or his envoy
who would possibly come to Sinj," asked Peric.
(hina) rml sb