ZAGREB, May 31 (Hina) - Following a long stormy discussion, the Croatian national parliament's House of Representatives did not take a vote of no-confidence in the minister of public works, reconstruction and construction, Radimir
Cacic, at the end of the debate, as there was a lack of quorum in the Sabor's hall. Deputies of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) tabled a motion of censure, assessing that Minister Cacic had recently made some remarks that were ,according to them, insulting for all war veterans and victims of the aggression against Croatia. At the beginning of the parliamentary discussion after the HDZ bench asked for a vote of confidence, Premier Ivica Racan expressed his support to Minister Cacic. We resolutely dismiss all insinuation that somebody is trying to equalise the victim and the aggressor from the Homeland War, Racan said. "The Homeland War was not a cause of destr
ZAGREB, May 31 (Hina) - Following a long stormy discussion, the
Croatian national parliament's House of Representatives did not
take a vote of no-confidence in the minister of public works,
reconstruction and construction, Radimir Cacic, at the end of the
debate, as there was a lack of quorum in the Sabor's hall.
Deputies of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) tabled a motion of
censure, assessing that Minister Cacic had recently made some
remarks that were ,according to them, insulting for all war
veterans and victims of the aggression against Croatia. At the
beginning of the parliamentary discussion after the HDZ bench asked
for a vote of confidence, Premier Ivica Racan expressed his support
to Minister Cacic.
We resolutely dismiss all insinuation that somebody is trying to
equalise the victim and the aggressor from the Homeland War, Racan
said.
"The Homeland War was not a cause of destruction," the Prime
Minister said adding that "owing to weakness of the law-based
state, following the "Flesh" and "Storm" operations, there were,
unfortunately, cases of demolition and arson, and war crimes were
committed as well."
What we only want is that all citizens of Croatia have the equal
rights and responsibility. This implies that all who committed
crimes should be held liable for them, Racan said and concluded that
there was no reason for taking a no-confidence vote in Cacic.
HDZ deputies have tabled the motion of censure, as two weeks ago
when the HDZ's proposals about amendments to the Reconstruction Act
were considered, Minister Cacic uttered "the grave political and
historical untruth," insulting all soldiers who defended the
country, the aggression's victims and HDZ members," said Drago
Krpina, a HDZ parliamentarian.
On that occasion Cacic claimed that it was not only the Greater
Serbia's aggression that destroyed, set fire and plundered
throughout Croatia, but that there were criminals in both sides.
Krpina replied that his party had never denied that during and in
the wake of the 1995 operations there were criminal acts. In view of
that fact, courts have so far made about 1,950 verdicts. Of them
1,492 cases were sentences including seven sentences for murder.
Minister Cacic should not be asked to be held responsible for the
"naked truth" he said, Damir Kajin of the Istrian Democratic
Alliance (IDS) said, as after the "Flesh" and "Storm" there were
cases of arson and plunder.
All other deputies of the ruling six-party coalition to the House of
Representatives supported Minister Cacic. Some of MPs asserted
that this attack against him was actually an attack against the
Reconstruction Law which had stirred up a heated debate two weeks
before and which should soon be voted on.
(hina) mm ms