DC: PRESIDENT DRAMATICALLY SHARPENS RELATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT

ZAGREB, Sept 25 (Hina) - The Democratic Centre (DC) President, Mate Granic, estimated that in his address to the nation on Wednesday evening, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic dramatically sharpened his relations with the Croatian Government, deteriorated its international position and blocked activities and lobbying by Croatia's diplomacy in the legal dispute with the Hague-based tribunal's prosecution. #L# Granic has announced that the DC will propose consultations with opposition parties concerning Mesic's statement, adding that a Sabor discussion scheduled for Friday will now revolve around the president's statement rather than the indictment against General Janko Bobetko. Mesic has deepened division on the Croatian political scene at a time when consensus existed that the indictment against General Bobetko is unconstitutional because a legitimate military action has been portrayed as a criminal operation rather than a liberating action following constant terrorist attacks on Gospic that the UNPROFOR did not manage to thwart, Granic said. There was consensus on the Croatian political scene that Bobetko did not plan, prepare, order or execute any crime but that crimes committed in the action in the Medak Pocket during the retreat of the Croatian Army deserve every condemnation and should be investigated and tried, DC leader stated. It is clear that the indictment against Bobetko is an attempt to change history and to equalise true war criminals with those who commanded the war of defence, Granic concluded. (hina) sp ms