ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - The heads of Croatia's secret services on Monday refuted claims by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party that there had been abuse during last week's take-over at the Croatian Intelligence Service (HIS).
"The manager of HIS and the head of UNS (National Security Office), as well as representatives of the Interior Ministry, completely refuted claims that there had been abuse during the take-over," Djurdja Adlesic told reporters following today's session of parliament's Internal Affairs and National Security Committee, which she chairs. The HDZ demanded that the Committee convene today, claiming that members of "Alfi", a special Interior Ministry unit, raided the HIS headquarters during last week's take-over of the manager's office, completely undressing HIS' members. Adlesic told the press the HDZ today did not state the names of the employees who were ordered
ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - The heads of Croatia's secret services on
Monday refuted claims by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party
that there had been abuse during last week's take-over at the
Croatian Intelligence Service (HIS).
"The manager of HIS and the head of UNS (National Security Office),
as well as representatives of the Interior Ministry, completely
refuted claims that there had been abuse during the take-over,"
Djurdja Adlesic told reporters following today's session of
parliament's Internal Affairs and National Security Committee,
which she chairs.
The HDZ demanded that the Committee convene today, claiming that
members of "Alfi", a special Interior Ministry unit, raided the HIS
headquarters during last week's take-over of the manager's office,
completely undressing HIS' members.
Adlesic told the press the HDZ today did not state the names of the
employees who were ordered to undress, but added the Interior
Ministry committed to investigate the matter if someone reported
that they had been forced to do so.
The president of HDZ's parliamentary bench, Vladimir Seks, today
confirmed the heads of the secret services had denied the alleged
abuse, but stuck by his claim that the information he had received
stated the opposite.
"We have such information," Seks said when asked whether he was
saying that UNS' and HIS' top officials were lying.
Seks refused to name his sources, only saying his information was
"perfectly correct and precise."
The HDZ official further said he was satisfied with the explanation
he had been given in connection with the reorganisation of HIS,
adding the explanation refuted the prime minister's initial
statement that the service had been dissolved.
Seks asserted he expected Croatia's military intelligence service,
SIS (Security Intelligence Service), would be subjected to a
"treatment" similar as HIS in a couple of days. "Look it up in
'Nacional' weekly, the intelligence bulletin of the President's
Office," he said when asked who had told him so.
According to Adlesic, amendments to the data secrecy law will be
initiated in a week's time to prevent them to a certain degree from
leaking from private archives.
Today's Internal Affairs and National Security Committee session
was attended by UNS and HIS heads Tomislav Karamarko and Damir
Loncaric, Service for the Protection of the Constitutional Order
(SZUP) chief Franjo Turek, Deputy Interior Minister Josip Vresk,
and the President's adviser on internal affairs, Igor Dekanic.
(hina) ha mm