SPLIT COUNTY PREFECT CONDEMNS RIOTERS

SPLIT, May 8 (Hina) - Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Branimir Luksic, a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), on Tuesday condemned rioters who shouted insults at Croatian President Stjepan Mesic in Split, and added that Mesic had not been aware that he was visiting the people whose dearest ones had died for Croatia. Luksic also criticised Prime Minister Ivica Racan for saying that Split had seen a demonstration of primitive, barbaric conduct. Speaking at a news conference in Split, Luksic condemned shouts "Gypsy, Gypsy" directed against President Mesic during a visit to Split last weekend. Mesic was not aware that he was visiting the families of killed Croatian soldiers who attended a ceremony marking the anniversary of the Fourth Brigade, whose members died for Croatia," said the prefect. Many Split County citizens hold Mesic responsible for the processing of Croatian soldiers in The Hague, he said. Luksic expressed regret over Mesic's statement that a former editor-in-chief of the "Slobodna Dalmacija" daily, Josip Jovic, had been "conducting Goebbels-style propaganda." It is really unfair to take Jovic to task only because "Slobodna Dalmacija" published critical articles about the President and the authorities, Luksic said. The prefect also criticised Prime Minister Racan for his statement about barbarism and primitive conduct in Split. Racan should have used these expressions when the Hercegovacka Banka was raided and plundered under the leadership of the international community's High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch, Luksic said. The Hercegovacka Banka is the only bank in the area which is not owned by Austrians, he added. (hina) sb rml