DECAK: PANCIC ISN'T WORTHY TO HEAD HOMELAND WAR SOLDIERS' MINISTRY

ZAGREB, June 23 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Homeland War Veterans' Association, Lieutenant General Djuro Decak, on Friday said Ivica Pancic was not worthy to head the Ministry of Homeland War Soldiers because he was conducting the revision of disability in a manner which was contrary to the Constitution. Decak said the persons whose disability status had been annulled, partially or wholly, had not been given the opportunity to prove whether they are guilty or not. "Every honourable Croatian veteran supports revision, but the dignity of veterans must be protected," Decak said. As of today, veterans will not be ignorant of what is going on around them and we will not allow anyone to beat us in the war from which we came out as the victors, Decak said. "We are witnessing the vilification of the Homeland War on a daily basis," Decak said, announcing a more aggressive approach of his association, but in line with the law. The funds which the Association has been granted from the budget are insufficient for its programmes of education and employment of veterans, Decak said. He added the Association had ten centres for aiding veterans, which had contracts with the Ministry of Homeland War Soldiers, however, experts who were working in those centres had not received their salaries for six months. Decak believes the government was favouring new, local veterans' associations with the aim of dividing associations operating on the state level and was trying to put under control non-governmental associations according to the principle 'one association, one voice'. (hina) jn rml