ZAGREB, Sept 29 (Hina) - Croatia's Interior Ministry on Friday marked Police Day and the day of St. Michael's, its patron saint, at the Police Academy in Zagreb, with addresses from the president of the republic, prime minister, and
interior minister. Congratulating the police force on their day, President Stipe Mesic said the police had to secure the autonomous functioning of state institutions without any outside pressures. "Many gave their lives so that today we could have a state and its institutions," he said, wondering "how can someone accuse these institutions today by saying they are tarnishing the dignity of the Homeland Defence War by seeking that accounts be rendered." Mesic said it was not true that the police were apprehending "Croatian heroes" but suspects, and that state institutions guaranteed that their rights were not abused. Mesic said that those who thought they might cha
ZAGREB, Sept 29 (Hina) - Croatia's Interior Ministry on Friday
marked Police Day and the day of St. Michael's, its patron saint, at
the Police Academy in Zagreb, with addresses from the president of
the republic, prime minister, and interior minister.
Congratulating the police force on their day, President Stipe Mesic
said the police had to secure the autonomous functioning of state
institutions without any outside pressures.
"Many gave their lives so that today we could have a state and its
institutions," he said, wondering "how can someone accuse these
institutions today by saying they are tarnishing the dignity of the
Homeland Defence War by seeking that accounts be rendered."
Mesic said it was not true that the police were apprehending
"Croatian heroes" but suspects, and that state institutions
guaranteed that their rights were not abused.
Mesic said that those who thought they might change their political
position by pressuring the police, state prosecutor's office and
judiciary were in the wrong.
Prime Minister Ivica Racan said Croatia's authorities and citizens
were fighting for a European Croatia ruled by law and in which all
citizens felt safe. The police have a demanding task in enforcing
this and must contribute to fighting organised crime, "since
without this, we can't talk about a European Croatia," he added.
Interior Minister Sime Lucin's message to those "calculating with
Croatia's future and security is that the police were and will stay
the guarantor of stability for the whole society and state." He said
that top military officials were continuing to manipulate the
public by objecting to the police's alleged lack of professionalism
and propensity for spectacle.
"We must all work together to move towards Europe and ensure the
functioning of the rule of law. In this, the Croatian police will do
everything in their power," said Lucin.
Lucin was hopeful an upcoming police force reorganisation and
announcements of a new police law and a decree on the organisation
of the interior ministry would complete the overall
depoliticisation of society. He was confident reforms within the
police would wrap up early next year, enabling the establishment of
a real and professional force.
Pointing to the immeasurable contribution the Croatian police made
to the early 1990s Homeland Defence War, Police Academy
commissioner Petar Vejic reminded that 842 members of the interior
ministry were killed while defending Croatia, 3,566 were wounded
and 64 were still listed as detained or missing.
Parliament speaker Zlatko Tomcic also congratulated the police
force on their day.
(hina) ha