MESIC: INDIVIDUALS FROM HDZ HAVE THEIR HAND IN GENERALS' LETTER

STRASBOURG, Sept 28 (Hina) - Individuals from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) who cannot accept the fact that they have lost the election are behind the letter of 12 Croatian generals urging the ending of criminalisation of the Homeland War, Croatian President Stipe Mesic said on Thursday. The statement was given to Croatian reporters in Strasbourg, as a comment on a letter forwarded to the public by 12 active and retired Croatian generals protesting the criminalisation of the Homeland War and seeking the protection of its dignity. "This was organised by those parts of the HDZ, those individuals who cannot accept the fact that they have lost the elections," Mesic said. The President said he supported the protection of dignity of the Homeland War. "I, too, call for the protection of (its) dignity but it must be protected by securing the functioning of the state, preventing a protective approach toward anyone and making everybody equal under the law," Mesic said. He added that no one had been suspected of having participated in the Homeland War but exclusively of concrete acts. Mesic also commented on a leaflet by the Croatian People's- Liberation Movement, which declared a state of war and sentenced Mesic, Prime Minister Ivica Racan and several other Croatian officials to death. "I was never bothered by people who make death threats and don't dare come out in the open," Mesic said. (hina) jn rml