WAR VETERANS ADDRESS PUBLIC REGARDING SINJSKA ALKA TOURNAMENT

SINJ, July 17 (Hina) - The Split-Dalmatia County Association of Homeland War Volunteers (UHDDR) and veterans' associations from the southern Cetina region on Wednesday addressed the public in a letter calling on people and Alka tournament competitors to "behave in a dignified manner", expressing hope Alka duke Mirko Norac would be allowed to defend himself in freedom. #L# "We are not interested in politics nor are we manipulated by any political option, and we believe it is time for all 'warring' parties who have been accusing each other to stop with the accusations and debate and ask themselves how much they are responsible for the events at last year's Alka tournament," reads the letter. Praising the current Alka duke Mirko Norac's decision of last year, when he ordered that the tournament be held in the spirit of old customs and regulations, the association added, "We believe in the fairness of the Croatian judiciary, the Rijeka County Court, and judge Ika Saric, who has demonstrated her greatness in the trial of General and Alka duke Mirko Norac. Hence our belief and hope that Norac would be allowed to defend himself without being detained in the further course of the trial," reads the letter. At the end of the letter, the war veterans call on the people of Sinj and the Cetina region, as well as Alka competitors, to behave in a dignified way so that this year's event could take place without any problems. The audience at last year's Alka tournament booed at the event's sponsor, President Stjepan Mesic, while his envoy was prevented from presenting Mesic's traditional gift to the winner of the competition. Sinj mayor Mate Jukic, who is also the president of the Alka Knights Society, said the Alka competitors did not want to receive the gift due to their solidarity with Norac. Norac is standing trial at the Rijeka County Court on charges of war crimes, committed in Gospic in 1991. (hina) rml