ZAGREB, July 9 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday received a delegation of the Society of Sinj Alka Knights and on that occasion informed them that he would decide at a later date whether he will agree to once again
be the sponsor of this year's Alka tournament. President Mesic suggested that the society look for a possible alternative sponsor.
ZAGREB, July 9 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday
received a delegation of the Society of Sinj Alka Knights and on
that occasion informed them that he would decide at a later date
whether he will agree to once again be the sponsor of this year's
Alka tournament. President Mesic suggested that the society look
for a possible alternative sponsor. #L#
Speaking about the current political moment, Mesic amongst else
said that the Government did not fall because of former Deputy Prime
Minister Drazen Budisa but because it did not resolve key issues in
Croatian society, one of the most acute being the high rate of
unemployment.
In his talks with the Alka Society, there was mention of the
incidents related to last year's Sinj Alka competition when the
president was scoffed and insulted and the winner of the
competition was not allowed to be honoured with gifts sent by the
head of state.
Several times, President Mesic stressed that there was no guarantee
the same incidents would not recur seeing that the Society was
headed by the same people. He claimed that these unfortunate
incidents were well organised and were not spontaneous and an
atmosphere was created in which the government was to have been
brought down in three months. Governments are not changed in that
way but at elections. "As such keep to the Alka and leave politics
aside," Mesic told members of the Alka Society.
The President also objected because the organisers did not ask to
see him following the incidents last year, so that they could
explain the situation, adding that events such as these are the
responsibility of the organisers. Mesic said he had been exposed to
charges that had nothing to do with him and that pressure was being
imposed for the law not to be adhered to.
In that regard, he said the President of the Republic did not have
the authority to meddle in the work of the official government and
cannot influence anyone to have Alka knight, General Mirko Norac,
released from jail so that he can attend the ceremony.
We must decide whether we want a European or isolated Croatia. That
means we need to respect institutions in this country and prove that
we have a serious government. He added that the President of the
Republic has the right to pardon someone only after they have been
sentenced by the courts.
Members of the Alka Society, headed by their president and Mayor of
Sinj (town in the Split hinterland), Mato Jukic attempted to
convince Mesic that the last year's incidents had not been
organised or planned and that they as the organisers could not
influence the people of that region. They asked that the president
however, accept sponsorship of that event once again this year.
Alka is a local tournament of riders, dating back to the Middle Ages
when it was organised for the first time in the honour of the victory
of local defenders in a fight against Ottoman invaders.
(hina) sp sb