ZAGREB, Feb 14 (Hina) - Asked about the whereabouts of General Mirko Norac, President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday evening told Croatian television that earlier in the day Norac requested report and that he was going to receive him. After
that Norac will answer questions asked by a court, as he is prepared for it, President Mesic said in an interview during the flagship news programme on the national TV. Asked when the report would be scheduled, Mesic answered that he believed it could be as soon as tomorrow, or tomorrow he would exactly know the date. Mesic explained that Norac is a general in the Reserves, but he is a general of the Croatian army and he fought for the institutions of the Croatian state, Mesic stressed. The head of state asserted that the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) had no indictment against Norac nor that anybody in the Hague-based Tribunal asked for him.
ZAGREB, Feb 14 (Hina) - Asked about the whereabouts of General Mirko
Norac, President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday evening told Croatian
television that earlier in the day Norac requested report and that
he was going to receive him.
After that Norac will answer questions asked by a court, as he is
prepared for it, President Mesic said in an interview during the
flagship news programme on the national TV.
Asked when the report would be scheduled, Mesic answered that he
believed it could be as soon as tomorrow, or tomorrow he would
exactly know the date.
Mesic explained that Norac is a general in the Reserves, but he is a
general of the Croatian army and he fought for the institutions of
the Croatian state, Mesic stressed.
The head of state asserted that the International Criminal Tribunal
for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) had no indictment against Norac
nor that anybody in the Hague-based Tribunal asked for him.
Commenting on Norac's interview which Split-based "Slobodna
Dalmacija" daily will publish on Wednesday and according to which
Norac was in Split during Sunday's protest rally, the Croatian
President said that by doing so Norac denied statements of those who
ostensibly asked for his protection.
"Many organisers of the Split rally, who stood on stage during that
event, knew that he was not under the protection of authorities and
that authorities did not conceal him, and knew that he was living
freely at an unknown place," Mesic added.
Commenting on the Split rally, he remarked that the case of Mirko
Norac was very little broached and that "the president of one party
does not mention Mirko Norac as they are interested only in gaining
power."
Besides, those who joined the rally in Split were not unanimous in
either objectives or demands.
Some are dissatisfied with the social situation as they are
jobless, some are dissatisfied as they receive low salaries so that
they barely make ends meet. However, there are such persons who ask
privileges or want to retain them and a part has decided to use the
dissatisfaction of some war veterans and those on welfare for the
change of powers in politics but "it is simply impossible," he
added.
In this context he also expressed his wish that the Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ) finally transform itself "from a movement
into a political party as the strong opposition is necessary for
Croatia nowadays." He explained that only strong and democratic
opposition could make the government abide by law and be moral.
Commenting on a letter he received from the U.S. President George
Bush who expressed support to the bids of the President and
Government to lead Croatia towards democracy and the rule of law,
Mesic described the letter as great support. So far, the Untied
States, as well as European Union member-countries, have also
supported all democratic processes in Croatia. However, we have not
yet settled some open issues, he said.
Problems are raised when one threatens to use force or to take
action which impede traffic on our roads, he said adding this would
be pernicious to Croatia's economy.
The hindrance of traffic implies the removal of possibilities for a
successful tourist season and for gathering financial means
necessary to activate the country's potentials. Open issues must be
solved, but not by the threats about the use of force, the president
asserted.
Asked about the state of affairs in the Croatian police and army, he
answered that the situation in the armed forces was normal. The
police are doing their job and they will intervene if some try to
impose solutions outside institutions, he said.
All rallies are legal and legitimate and there is no need for anyone
to enter conflict with police, Mesic added.
Commenting on the publishing of transcripts (made during the term
of office of the late President Franjo Tudjman), the incumbent
president said they were made public only to show that Croatia had
not been a law-based state and that decisions used to be made at
places where they should not have been made and that it had been
known about some criminal actions but competent bodies failed to
process them.
There was no intention (with the revelation of transcripts) of
"insulting anybody but the purpose was to show how a system used to
function," Mesic explained.
Asked to give his opinion on Croatia's Homeland Defence War, Mesic
reiterated that the war made it possible for the nation to have
freedom and be internationally recognised.
However, there were cases in the Homeland Defence War, just as in
every war, that shifted from the permissible, he said adding that
the greatest protection of the dignity of Croatia's war of
independence was the functioning of institutions of a democratic
country.
(hina) ms