ZAGREB, May 26 (Hina) - On the occasion of Statehood Day Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Friday met representatives of 21 associations gathering Croatian soldiers, volunteers, the families of killed, missing and imprisoned soldiers, and
civilian Homeland War victims. "I believe the atmosphere these talks were held in and their results will help us understand each other better and eliminate possible future misunderstandings," Racan said after the talks. "It is not hard to accept part of the criticisms that this meeting should have been held earlier, however, we will now normalise relations because this Government wants to have good relations with non-governmental associations as well, especially with those related to the Homeland War," he added. The president of the Alliance of Homeland War Volunteers' Associations, Miro Laco, stressed as important an agreement on the establishment of a permanent body which wo
ZAGREB, May 26 (Hina) - On the occasion of Statehood Day Prime
Minister Ivica Racan on Friday met representatives of 21
associations gathering Croatian soldiers, volunteers, the
families of killed, missing and imprisoned soldiers, and civilian
Homeland War victims.
"I believe the atmosphere these talks were held in and their results
will help us understand each other better and eliminate possible
future misunderstandings," Racan said after the talks.
"It is not hard to accept part of the criticisms that this meeting
should have been held earlier, however, we will now normalise
relations because this Government wants to have good relations with
non-governmental associations as well, especially with those
related to the Homeland War," he added.
The president of the Alliance of Homeland War Volunteers'
Associations, Miro Laco, stressed as important an agreement on the
establishment of a permanent body which would coordinate the work
of ministries regarding soldiers' problems. Laco said it was also
significant that the Government had through constructive talks
realised some mistakes it had made in its communication with
Homeland War associations.
The Alliance objected that the Government unconditionally trusted
ICTY investigators. The Government should insist on a more
important role of the Croatian judiciary in processing possible
crimes committed in Croatia, Laco said.
The above-mentioned coordination will be organised by the Defence
Ministry. The Minister of Homeland War Soldiers, Ivica Pancic, said
many were seeking help from the Ministry of Homeland War Soldiers,
but the ministry itself was often prevented from resolving certain
problems which were within the jurisdiction of other ministries.
The most difficult problems were unemployment, housing problems,
and the search for the truth about the fate of missing soldiers, he
added.
Asked whether road blocks had been mentioned at the talks, Prime
Minister Racan answered negatively. "I don't believe patriotically
oriented associations would cause damage to Croatia and that is why
we did not discuss it at the meeting," Racan said.
Commenting on why his assistant Pero Kovacevic was relieved of his
duties, Minister Pancic said the main reason was the findings of the
state audit and financial police, which, he said "bring discredit
on the work of the Ministry of Homeland War Soldiers in 1998 and
1999."
(hina) jn rml