ZAGREB, Feb 5 (Hina) - At his last news conference ahead of the media blackout, presidential candidate Stipe Mesic handed a payment slip for 33,405 kuna (around US$4,500) to Mario Hodak, a young man to undergo a kidney transplant
operation. Mesic said the fund-raising action his headquarters had joined in was commendable, however, it was also a proof that medical treatment in Croatia had become a privilege. According to Mesic, Croatia will have a good health system only when all its citizens are granted the right to medical treatment in the country and abroad. Mesic promised to continue participating in similar actions. Reporters were also informed about a statement written in response to an article in today's issue of 'Slobodna Dalmacija', by editor-in-chief Josip Jovic, who named Mesic's campaign headquarters a headquarters of "odd fish", including agents of former Yugoslav secret services and dubious peop
ZAGREB, Feb 5 (Hina) - At his last news conference ahead of the media
blackout, presidential candidate Stipe Mesic handed a payment slip
for 33,405 kuna (around US$4,500) to Mario Hodak, a young man to
undergo a kidney transplant operation.
Mesic said the fund-raising action his headquarters had joined in
was commendable, however, it was also a proof that medical
treatment in Croatia had become a privilege. According to Mesic,
Croatia will have a good health system only when all its citizens
are granted the right to medical treatment in the country and
abroad. Mesic promised to continue participating in similar
actions.
Reporters were also informed about a statement written in response
to an article in today's issue of 'Slobodna Dalmacija', by editor-
in-chief Josip Jovic, who named Mesic's campaign headquarters a
headquarters of "odd fish", including agents of former Yugoslav
secret services and dubious people with thick police files.
Mesic's headquarters replied in its statement that none of its
members was under criminal investigation and that Jovic's article
was full of fabrications, including the names of people mentioned
in it, who, the statement read, had never been the headquarters'
members or associates.
Commenting on a question raised in his debates with his rival Drazen
Budisa, regarding a speech by a US Congress member, who in 1993 said
he was disappointed that there was no difference between Croatia's
authority and Opposition regarding the war in Bosnia, Mesic said he
was in possession of that speech, in which it was stated that the
congressman in question had held talks with Budisa during his visit
to Croatia.
Stressing that he was not conducting a campaign against Budisa,
Mesic said it was discovered that the disputable data published in
'Slobodna Dalmacija' articles had been sent from a fax machine at
the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) headquarters.
HSLS members today distanced themselves from the case, saying they
did not know who had sent the faxes. Mesic believes the police
should investigate the case.
Speaking about reasons as to why his campaign revolved more around
the past than the future, Mesic said the initial idea had been to
concentrate on the current political situation and the
presidential mandate, however, the headquarters had to respond to
the attacks it was exposed to.
(hina) rml