UHDDR DISCONTINUES COOPERATION WITH HOMELAND WAR SOLDIERS' MINISTRY

ZAGREB, June 7 (Hina) - The Association of Croatian Homeland War Volunteers (UHDDR) indefinitely discontinued all forms of cooperation with the Croatian Ministry for Homeland War soldiers. The reason for the discontinuation of the cooperation is the limitation of funds for the work of association, failure to fulfil regulations for a valid law on the rights of Homeland War soldiers and the spreading of untruth and sensations about the Homeland War, UHDDR president Tomislav Mercep told a press conference Wednesday. We ask for money which has been approved by the Croatian National Sabor, and earmarked for most necessary expenses of the UHDDR, Mercep said. He stressed that even during the mandate of former Minister Juraj Njavro, the Homeland War Ministry was reluctant toward the UHDDR. He accused the new authority that it failed to even begin to function when it comes to Croatian Homeland War soldiers, and added that incompetent persons were working in the Ministry. We ask a different treatment by the Government. The implementation of the law on rights of Homeland War soldiers is the most important to the UHDDR. The UHDDR also demanded the endorsement of a special law on the protection of dignity of the Homeland War. The UHDDR will be patient until September by which we give another 100 days to the Government, and if nothing happens by then, we will take firmer standpoints and protests, said Mercep and announced possible protests. (hina) it jn