ZAGREB, May 24 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic's decision to reorganise the Croatian Intelligence Service (HIS) is an expression of efforts to return intelligence and security services within frameworks in which they can
democratically serve society and carry out their basic task, to protect Croatian state interests, the Office of National Security (UNS) said in a statement on Wednesday.
ZAGREB, May 24 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic's decision
to reorganise the Croatian Intelligence Service (HIS) is an
expression of efforts to return intelligence and security services
within frameworks in which they can democratically serve society
and carry out their basic task, to protect Croatian state
interests, the Office of National Security (UNS) said in a
statement on Wednesday.#L#
UNS is an umbrella organisation of intelligence services in the
country.
As an abroad-oriented intelligence service, HIS will continue
carrying out its original duties in the changed organisational form
until an optimum and complete solution is found, read the UNS
statement.
President Mesic decided to reorganise HIS at a proposal by UNS head
Tomislav Karamarko, and in agreement with Croatian Premier Ivica
Racan and parliament's Internal Affairs and National Security
Committee.
UNS said in the statement the decision was also a reflection of
endeavours to apply high standards of modern democratic countries
to this service.
The taken measures also create pre-requisites for the
strengthening of democratic control over the intelligence and
security system in order to best ensure a simultaneous development
of democracy and a high degree of professionalism in services
dealing with state security, the UNS statement read.
Speaking to Croatian Television's evening news, President Mesic
said "HIS' intention was to turn outwards, but it turned inwards
which was not in line with what we wanted, i.e. with what Croatia
wants and what it needs."
Mesic said that during his presidential campaign he had pointed to
dissatisfaction with the work of intelligence services and that the
parties of the ruling coalition had done the same prior to January's
change of authority. The services' work was not transparent, and
sometimes even against the law, the President asserted.
Commenting on Premier Racan's statement today that HIS had "in
fact" been dissolved, President Mesic said "dissolved" was too
strong a word because it was a case of reorganisation.
Mesic's Office stated today the President had appointed Damir
Loncaric as head of HIS. Loncaric had worked as a policeman for 22
years, earning a reputation for his struggle against organised
crime in Croatia. When appointed head of HIS, he worked as the
director of Zagreb airport's security service.
(hina) ha/ms jn