ZAGREB, Aug 8 (Hina) - The chief superintendent of the Croatian police, Ranko Ostojic, on Wednesday reiterated that none of police officers, who received papers reading that they were made available to the government, would be left
without adequate care if they had proper documents and adequate school degree. After his meeting with representatives of the dissatisfied policemen of Karlovac County, Ostojic said over 1,000 police officers were employed with the ministry although they had no adequate degree from secondary schools. "All these years they have been living placing their hopes in false promises given by guardians ... who are to be blamed for pushing, contrary to law, those people in such situation," Ostojic said. He added that the media were giving misinformation about the possible cessation of work contracts for disabled war veterans employed by the interior ministry. In this context,
ZAGREB, Aug 8 (Hina) - The chief superintendent of the Croatian
police, Ranko Ostojic, on Wednesday reiterated that none of police
officers, who received papers reading that they were made available
to the government, would be left without adequate care if they had
proper documents and adequate school degree.
After his meeting with representatives of the dissatisfied
policemen of Karlovac County, Ostojic said over 1,000 police
officers were employed with the ministry although they had no
adequate degree from secondary schools.
"All these years they have been living placing their hopes in false
promises given by guardians ... who are to be blamed for pushing,
contrary to law, those people in such situation," Ostojic said.
He added that the media were giving misinformation about the
possible cessation of work contracts for disabled war veterans
employed by the interior ministry.
In this context, Ostojic said 461 such veterans had got papers
reading that they were made available to the government, but nobody
would be dismissed until the final resolution of their status.
He announced the continuation of talks with other bodies of the
state administration on the issue of job vacancies. Some police
officers can thus expect new jobs in prisons or in the security of
state prosecutors' offices.
Ostojic asserted that one should wait for next three months to pass
before assessing whether the ministry was implementing the
programme for the resolution of surplus workers' problems as it
promised to do.
In addition, there are 800 vacancies in the ministry and we are
bound to fill them first of all, he added.
Speaking of the demands of police union and policemen-protesters in
the town of Bjelovar who insisted that he come there and address
them, Ostojic said he had never accepted and would never accept
ultimatums adding that he was always ready for talks.
"Had the union relayed the right information to police, such
situation would not have happened," Ostojic said adding that
Karlovac police representatives had agreed with his stand that all
problems could be settled within the interior ministry.
Bjelovar Mayor and the parliamentary national security committee's
head, Djurdja Adlesic, on Wednesday expressed understanding for
the bitterness of the police protesters, and appealed for an urgent
meeting between the ministry's top officials and demonstrators.
"The talks must begin as soon as possible as to avoid unnecessary
problems and unrest," said Adlesic who had phoned Ostojic earlier
in the day.
"There is no need to stir up tension.... We are carrying out the re-
organisation of the interior ministry, which started a year before,
with the aim of the creation of modern police able to respond to all
challenges," Ostojic said.
He added that the ministry suffered from consequences of the
heritage of the 100-percent increase in the number of police
officers since 1990. In early 1990s it was, to some degree,
justified by the war situation, but 2001 is a moment for peace-time
reorganisation, as this country should have efficient police that
spend as less as possible money of tax payers, he explained.
Asked whether he feared possible strike of police officers, Ostojic
replied that he could not comment on what might happen adding that
such situation are regulated by law.
Commenting on the fact that police union pressed charges against
him, Interior Minister Sime Lucin and Premier Ivica Racan, Ostojic
said the charges filed with the state prosecutor's office would
have the same treatment as any other case, and added that he would
respect a possible decision of the prosecutor's office to instigate
the criminal procedure.
"I am prepared to answer for my work and I am not at all scared by such
things," Ostojic said announcing his talks with representatives of
Sisak County police and an association called "The First Croatian
Police Officer" later in the day
(hina) ms