RIJEKA, Aug 23 (Hina) - An Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) vice-president and MP, Damir Kajin, told reporters on Friday Croatia and Slovenia were friendly countries which did have mutual disputes but would settle them in a civilised
manner. He added that Croatia did not want Slovene territory but would defend its sovereignty.
RIJEKA, Aug 23 (Hina) - An Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) vice-
president and MP, Damir Kajin, told reporters on Friday Croatia and
Slovenia were friendly countries which did have mutual disputes but
would settle them in a civilised manner. He added that Croatia did
not want Slovene territory but would defend its sovereignty. #L#
The Racan-Drnovsek border agreement put Croatia in a less
favourable position, Kajin said, adding that the local border
traffic agreement of 1997 had nevertheless been adopted
unanimously and it was not possible to annul it.
Kajin said that the Croatian police should warn Slovene fishing
boats and escort them to the Slovene territory. If an incident
occurs, it will be too late, he said, adding that the government was
not responsible for the current situation, but had to guarantee
citizens security.
Kajin supported proceedings against Josko Joras, stressing that
the Croatian authorities had finally shown that they were going to
defend Croatia's sovereignty, jurisdiction and the honour of its
symbols, which he said was something the government of the Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ) was incapable of doing. Kajin warned that
Joras was on a hunger strike, which was turning him into a
"political symbol", and that he should be enabled to contact
humanitarian organisations.
The authorities should send a message to the Central Headquarters
for the Protection of Homeland War Values and its president Mirko
Condic making it clear that responsibility for protecting the
border and the honour and dignity of the Croatian people rested with
the state and not them, Kajin said, adding that patriotism should be
demonstrated with economic development and not gunboats.
(hina) rml sb