"REPUBLIKA" IS ALLEGING DEFENCE MINISTRY IN THE SPENDING LEAD

ZAGREB, Feb 4 (Hina) - In reaction to an article ran by Croatia's daily "Republika" headlined "(Defence Minister) Jozo Rados and Closest Associates Spent 838,800 kuna for Entertainment", the Croatian Defence Ministry stressed on Sunday the paper's reporter Vedran Marjanovic tendentiously tried to manipulate the public and create an impression the Ministry is in the lead with extravagant spending of budgetary money. The mentioned amount of money includes overall expenses for the duties of the Minister and his associates, such as official trips at home and abroad, daily fees, fuel and maintenance of official vehicles, accommodation and food expenses for foreign delegations coming for a visit to the Defence Ministry and similar expenses which are usually not presented as costs for entertainment. The Ministry said personal consumption of food and drink are truly a significant part of the Ministry's costs. The expenses are in line with the government's decisions and granted budgetary funds, which is also confirmed by a report submitted to the government by Minister Rados. The report clearly shows the costs of entertainment in the Defence Ministry are no higher than those of other ministries, which can be checked at the government. "We cannot, thus, see the aforementioned article as anything other than a continuation of imputation by the Republika paper," the Ministry said in a statement. (hina) lml