ZAGREB, Aug 6 (Hina) - Representatives of most parliamentary parties, apart from the opposition, described as unacceptable yesterday's events at the 286th Sinjska Alka tournament at which the victor refused to accept his award from
the President's advisor. Spectators and participants of the tournament booed President Stipe Mesic and referred to him in derogatory terms. President of the Croatian Social Liberal Party and Defence Minister Jozo Rados said the conduct towards Mesic and his envoy was utterly unacceptable. "The Alka tournament was even before very much politicised on the line of the ruling regime, and this year it has been politicised on the line of the opposition, which is exploiting the Homeland Defence War and the Sinjska Alka for daily political matches," Rados stressed. Marin Jurjevic of the Social Democratic Party said this year's tournament passed in an inappropriate politicising and speech by the
ZAGREB, Aug 6 (Hina) - Representatives of most parliamentary
parties, apart from the opposition, described as unacceptable
yesterday's events at the 286th Sinjska Alka tournament at which
the victor refused to accept his award from the President's
advisor. Spectators and participants of the tournament booed
President Stipe Mesic and referred to him in derogatory terms.
President of the Croatian Social Liberal Party and Defence Minister
Jozo Rados said the conduct towards Mesic and his envoy was utterly
unacceptable.
"The Alka tournament was even before very much politicised on the
line of the ruling regime, and this year it has been politicised on
the line of the opposition, which is exploiting the Homeland
Defence War and the Sinjska Alka for daily political matches,"
Rados stressed.
Marin Jurjevic of the Social Democratic Party said this year's
tournament passed in an inappropriate politicising and speech by
the tournament leader Ante Kotromanovic.
"It is absurd and unacceptable that the Alka association accepted
Mesic's patronage, only to have the institution of the President of
the Republic insulted in the end," Jurjevic said.
President of the Croatian Party of Rights, Anto Djapic, holds that
the derogatory reaction by the spectators at the mention of Mesic's
name was nothing that would stand out from democratic behaviour.
"This was a strong political demonstration by the Alkarians, which
should make Mesic ponder," he stressed.
Drago Krpina of the Croatian Democratic Union deems the insults
were not meant for the institution of the President of the Republic,
but rather Mesic himself. According to Krpina, this was a reaction
to Mesic's numerous statements and his testimony for the
international war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
(hina) lml