VETERANS REQUEST PROTECTION OF DIGNITY OF HOMELAND WAR

ZAGREB, April 13 (Hina) - The Association of Homeland War Veterans (UHVDR) on Thursday sent the Sabor's Committee on War Veterans a "Memorandum on the Protection of Dignity of the Homeland War." According to a statement from the UHVDR, the memorandum was also forwarded to the President of the Republic, Prime Minister, and the Sabor President. In the document, the association requests a debate on the Homeland War, the purpose of which would be its evaluation in the establishment of the Republic of Croatia; they also request the re- evaluation of decisions on cooperation with the ICTY; the establishment of an institute for the history of the Homeland War; and the protection of dignity of the first Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. The veterans also request changes to the Law on the Rights of Croatian Homeland War Soldiers and urgent adoption of a law on voucher privatisation of public companies owned by the state, with the aim of establishing a fund for fulfilling legal obligations toward Croatian soldiers. The memorandum also warns about the growing problems in the communication between veterans' associations and the Ministry of Croatian Homeland War Soldiers, and all state institutions, which should be systematically dealing with the problems of soldiers and war victims. It is high time, the UHVDR believes, that soldiers' problems and issues regarding the Homeland War be tackled in an expert manner and without any political connotations, which requires a strategy of protection of dignity of the Homeland War and soldiers. In order to protect the interests of soldiers and war victims, the association demands from the legislators to consult veterans' associations while drawing up or applying laws, as well as that the parliamentary Rule Book include a possibility of direct presentation of problems and stands of Homeland War associations. (hina) jn rml