ZAGREB, Oct 17 (Hina) - Police have received reports about hundreds of parcels and letters suspected of being infected with anthrax, but preliminary laboratory tests have proven the suspicion is unfounded, Croatian Prime Minister
Ivica Racan said on Wednesday evening.
ZAGREB, Oct 17 (Hina) - Police have received reports about hundreds
of parcels and letters suspected of being infected with anthrax,
but preliminary laboratory tests have proven the suspicion is
unfounded, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Wednesday
evening. #L#
"A quick microscopic analysis need not be reliable and until
samples are additionally tested in the next two to three days I
cannot claim there is no danger of infection," Racan said after a
meeting of the most senior government members with representatives
of the ministries of the interior, health and justice on the danger
of anthrax in Croatia.
All suspicious parcels were sent from different addresses in
Croatia and foreign countries.
"Croatia is faced with two aspects of the threat of biological
terrorism - the threat of infection and the psychological
destruction of the family and society when there is no such danger,"
Racan said adding it was most important not to stir panic.
The police have been instructed how to act in case they discover
infected parcels and detailed instructions are being sent to all
bodies of state and local authority, he said.
The Health Ministry has formed a commission for urgent
interventions in case of biological incidents and contact has been
established with foreign institutions as well.
Asked whether he would accept the resignation offered by Health
Minister Ana Stavljenic-Rukavina over the death of 21 kidney
patients, Racan said he would make a decision on the matter in a few
days, once the investigation was completed.
There is a possibility the government will sue the US company
Baxter, the producer of the dialysers which are suspected of having
caused the death of the 21 patients, as well as the largest domestic
drug company, Pliva, which distributed the contentious dialysers
in Croatia.
"If the investigation confirms our suspicions, we will not hesitate
to take such measures," Racan said.
Commenting on a protest Croatian war veterans and the Headquarters
for the protection of Homeland War values plan to hold this
Saturday, Racan said that some people "obviously wanted trouble and
conflict."
"I am surprised at their announcement because we agreed at
yesterday's meting with veterans' associations that the government
would consider their amendments to the Law on War Veterans and judge
which can be included in the bill," Racan said.
The prime minister did not want to comment on the statement by
Public Works Minister Radimir Cacic that the Croatian Democratic
Union (HDZ) had conducted an aggressive policy towards Bosnia-
Herzegovina, only saying Cacic gave the statement as the leader of
the Croatian People's Party (HNS), and not as a government
minister.
"As regards the Government, it firmly stands by the Declaration on
the Homeland War, which was adopted by parliament," he said.
Commenting on Cacic's assessment that parliament deputy speaker
Mato Arlovic had made a mistake in a recent incident in parliament
when he reprimanded both MP Anto Kovacevic and MP Vesna Pusic, Racan
said this was an attack on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and an
unnecessary straining of relations in the ruling coalition.
(hina) rml