SNS PARTY SENDS HIGHEST STATE OFFICIALS LETTER OVER 'VOJINOVIC CASE'

ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - The Serb People's Party (SNS) on Friday called on the highest state and judicial officials to condemn a statement by Croatian Judges Association (UHS) president Vladimir Gredelj, who has said that accepting the candidacy of Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) vice-president Milos Vojnovic for a Vukovar County Court judge would be tantamount to "appointing a Taleban a judge in the United States". #L# In a letter addressed to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Supreme Court president and the head of the State Judicial Council, Djukic said that dozens of Serb employees in eastern Slavonia were unassigned because of their nationality, although they received their salaries. He also claimed that in units of local administration where they were in the majority, Serbs could not find employment regardless of their qualifications. "Every Taleban has a name and every Serb has a name, so if somebody is guilty, they should be held accountable, but if their only crime is being Serbs, the Croatian authorities have to ask themselves what is happening to Croatia's European and international orientation," Djukic said. The SNS leader called for the condemnation of Gredelj's statement and the prevention of all acts which are contrary to the constitutional equality of all citizens. Speaking on behalf of the UHS, Gredelj on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction with the Vukovar County Court's judges council's positive assessment of Vojinovic's candidacy for a court judge. The UHS believes that although he was amnestied, Vojinovic had worked in the bodies of a former self-styled Serb government and undermined the foundations of the Croatian state, as well as that he should never be appointed a judge. (hina) rml sb