ZAGREB, Sept 29 (Hina) - The decision made by the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, Stipe Mesic, on the retirement of generals who forwarded an open letter to the Croatian public and
institutions Thursday calling on them to cease with negative and incorrect presentations of the Homeland Defence War, gave rise to comments by representatives of parliamentary parties Friday. The President's decision involves seven signatories to the letter who were active generals until Friday. The other five signatories are not active generals -- five of them are retired and one is a general in the reserve forces. Drazen Budisa, president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) which is the biggest party in the ruling six-party coalition in Croatia, refused to comment on Mesic's decision. He said the party leadership would discuss the issue on Monday night and Defence Minist
ZAGREB, Sept 29 (Hina) - The decision made by the President of the
Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces,
Stipe Mesic, on the retirement of generals who forwarded an open
letter to the Croatian public and institutions Thursday calling on
them to cease with negative and incorrect presentations of the
Homeland Defence War, gave rise to comments by representatives of
parliamentary parties Friday.
The President's decision involves seven signatories to the letter
who were active generals until Friday.
The other five signatories are not active generals -- five of them
are retired and one is a general in the reserve forces.
Drazen Budisa, president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party
(HSLS) which is the biggest party in the ruling six-party coalition
in Croatia, refused to comment on Mesic's decision.
He said the party leadership would discuss the issue on Monday night
and Defence Minister Jozo Rados (HSLS member) would voice their
views.
Budisa also refused to comment on Thursday's letter by the 12
generals, stressing he would do so at next week's Parliament
session when the discussion on the current political situation in
Croatia will take place.
Acting president of the coalition's Liberal Party, Zlatko
Kramaric, deems the President's decision a logical move.
Active generals who signed the open letter violated the regulations
of their service which disallow (political) affiliation, which
they have done through this letter. Mesic could not have acted
differently, Kramaric said.
Luka Trconic, spokesman for the Croatian peasants' Party, a part of
the ruling coalition as well, also said the President's decision
was a logical move.
What the gentlemen generals did with their letter is a truly harsh
breach of the basic provisions on active service in the armed
forces, so I support the President's decision, he asserted.
Asked about some assessments that his decision would lead to a
further radicalisation of the political scene in Croatia, Trconic
said he did not agree. I believe a parliament discussion will be
held to clear everything up and place thing in their rightful place,
he added.
Former Armed Forces chief-of-staff and former defence minister
Pavao Miljavac (Democratic Centre party, DC) said the generals who
were retired Friday were people of high quality and this move would
have long-term repercussions both for relations within the
Croatian Armed Forces and on the Croatian political scene.
These are serious and responsible people who will not resist the
decision, he added.
Former foreign minister Mate Granic, president of the DC, said
President Mesic would receive endorsement from the international
community for his decision. As far as the generals' letter and
overall situation in Croatia are concerned, they will cause concern
within the international community, Granic said.
Granic stressed that from a formal and legal point of view,
President Mesic was right, because generals cannot give out
political statements. However, I am certain this decision will lead
to further tensions on the Croatian political scene, he added.
President of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) Ivo Sanader the
party leadership would discuss Mesic's decision in the afternoon.
Stressing he was speaking on his personal behalf, Sanader said,
"this is an utterly dangerous and failed political decision, as it
punishes generals, war heroes, who led the Croatian defence battle
in the Homeland Defence War."
Sanader admitted the army did not comment on political events in an
democratic country, but stressed the situation in Croatia was
specific because the country just recently ended a war.
Sanader said the assessment of the Defence Ministry, deeming the
President's decision drastic, was on the line of his thinking.
HDZ member of parliament Ljubo Cesic Rojs said the decision was the
President's right as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
He stressed he would give up his parliament mandate so as to
activate his status as a Croatian Armed Forces general, and
suggested he be retired as well, because he wished to "share the
fate of these 12 generals" who forwarded the letter Thursday.
Croatian Party of Rights Anto Djapic commented on President Mesic's
decision with the words "Whomever God wishes to destroy, He makes
him crazy". Asked whom this remark might concern, Djapic said the
person to whom it was directed would understand.
The Croatian Party of Rights fully supports the generals' letter,
he stressed. He assessed the letter was a statement by Croatian
generals who had created the Croatian State connected with the
unsustainable situation and political climate in the country.
(hina) lml jn