ZAGREB, Aug 6 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic under whose auspices the 286th Sinjska Alka tournament in southern Croatia took place, on Monday declined to comment on the refusal of the victor of yesterday's tournament to
accept the President's gifts - a gold ring and sabre - although the winners traditionally receive the presents at the end of the three-day tournament which dates back to the 18th century.
ZAGREB, Aug 6 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic under
whose auspices the 286th Sinjska Alka tournament in southern
Croatia took place, on Monday declined to comment on the refusal of
the victor of yesterday's tournament to accept the President's
gifts - a gold ring and sabre - although the winners traditionally
receive the presents at the end of the three-day tournament which
dates back to the 18th century.#L#
President has no comment, and it was all what was stated from his
office on Monday, following yesterday's developments at the finish
of this tournament in the southern town of Sinj, in the Split
hinterland.
During the final day of the tournament, some spectators and
participants booed President Mesic and referred to him in
derogatory terms.
The Alkarian Society (VAD) asked for Mesic's sponsorship over this
traditional event as soon as he was elected as Croatia's President,
on 2 March last year.
The President's sponsorship was asked in accordance with the
tradition that this tournaments is held under the auspices of the
head of state, and this was so in the past from Emperor Francis
Joseph, the Karadjordjevic dynasty (between two World Wars) and
Tito to the first Croatian President Franjo Tudjman.
Last year, when Mesic was also the sponsor of the event, there were
no problems. Mesic did not attend the event, but he sent his envoy,
Defence Minister Jozo Rados.
This year the VAD's delegation, led by VAD Chairman Mate Jukic, who
is a member of the opposition party HDZ, visited the President's
Office on 4 July, and the reason for their arrival was the talks with
Mesic's advisors about the sponsorship over the Alka.
They decided that Mesic's sponsorship over the Alka would last as
long he was in office, as it was in line with the tradition.
After the talks in Zagreb, VAD representatives distanced
themselves from media speculations that Alkarians would boycott
the game by deliberately failing to hit the target - the ring
('alka') above the lane where they ride horses during the race.
President Mesic had also appointed General Lieutenant Milivoj
Petkovic as his envoy at this event, which took place in Sinj
between 3-5 August.
However, at the end of the tournament on Sunday evening, the winner
refused the gifts, which Petkovic wanted to give him. The winner
Ivica Peric did so as he followed the order of the VAD that decided
that the victor should not accept President Mesic's gifts. In
addition, during his address to the tournament's participants and
spectators, Petkovic was booed and eventually gave up from his
speech.
Although it was not within the schedule of the programme, the VAD
chairman Jukic addressed the participants and spectators at the end
of the tournament to state that Alkarians could not receive the
President's gifts as long as the tournament's duke, General Mirko
Norac, was kept in custody. Norac, who was born in Sinj, is
currently in the detention centre in the seaport of Rijeka because
of a court process for war crimes he allegedly committed in Gospic
during the Homeland Defence War.
On Monday, representatives of most parliamentary parties, apart
from the opposition, described yesterday's events at the 286th
Sinjska Alka tournament as unacceptable.
(hina) ms