ZAGREB, May 18 (Hina) - Shortly after deputies at the House of Representatives reconvened to continue a debate on a bill on reconstruction on Thursday afternoon, the session was broken off for a short time due to a protest by Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ) deputies, who said Minister Radimir Cacic insulted them by claiming that during the Homeland War crimes had been committed by the Croat side as well and that HDZ members had not visited Knin upon its liberation. The dispute occurred when the Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction, Radimir Cacic, rejected an amendment by the HDZ to Article 1 of the bill on reconstruction suggesting that the words "damage inflicted in the Homeland War" be replaced with "in the Great-Serbian aggression on Croatia." Explaining why the Government would not adopt this amendment, Cacic said that upon his arrival in Knin the day after the town had been liberated he did not see
ZAGREB, May 18 (Hina) - Shortly after deputies at the House of
Representatives reconvened to continue a debate on a bill on
reconstruction on Thursday afternoon, the session was broken off
for a short time due to a protest by Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)
deputies, who said Minister Radimir Cacic insulted them by claiming
that during the Homeland War crimes had been committed by the Croat
side as well and that HDZ members had not visited Knin upon its
liberation.
The dispute occurred when the Minister of Public Works,
Reconstruction and Construction, Radimir Cacic, rejected an
amendment by the HDZ to Article 1 of the bill on reconstruction
suggesting that the words "damage inflicted in the Homeland War" be
replaced with "in the Great-Serbian aggression on Croatia."
Explaining why the Government would not adopt this amendment, Cacic
said that upon his arrival in Knin the day after the town had been
liberated he did not see any houses burning, however, he did see
them burning while leaving the town. Cacic also said members of the
then Opposition, including himself and Drazen Budisa, were in Knin
on that day, however, there were no HDZ members.
HDZ deputies reacted fiercely to this, demanding that Cacic
apologise. As he refused to do so, opposition deputies walked out of
the chamber.
After a 15-minute break, deputies returned to their benches and
Cacic apologised. "I was shocked at the explanation of the
amendment but it was not my intention to insult anyone. Therefore, I
apologise to all those who were there," Cacic said.
HDZ deputies this afternoon officially requested Cacic's
resignation claiming his statements at the Sabor represented a
grave insult for them and Croatian soldiers.
"If Minister Cacic does not resign, we demand a debate on a vote of
no confidence in him," read the letter the HDZ bench forwarded to
the Sabor Presidents, Prime Minister, and Minister Cacic.
The largest opposition party believes Cacic's statements were
"blatant lies and libels, which are bordering on an attempt to
criminalise the HDZ, its ten-year-long work, and the Homeland
War."
(hina) mm rml