SARAJEVO, Sept 29 (Hina) - Calls for rebellion against the legal Croatian authority or threatening with weapons, as people like Marinko Liovic (president of the Association of Croatian Homeland Defence War Invalids) and Ante Djapic
(president of the Croatian party of Rights) are doing, are only acts by persons on the margins of society who are loud, but cannot pull along anyone serious, Croatian President Stipe Mesic said in an interview published by Sarajevo's press agency, ONASA, on Friday. Mesic asserted that behind bilious public reactions stand persons scared of the possibility they could now lose their illegally-achieved privileges granted to them by the former ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). "They also know that this is now a democratic country and that nothing can happen to them in it," Mesic said, admitting some acts to which there should be reactions, are left without responses becaus
SARAJEVO, Sept 29 (Hina) - Calls for rebellion against the legal
Croatian authority or threatening with weapons, as people like
Marinko Liovic (president of the Association of Croatian Homeland
Defence War Invalids) and Ante Djapic (president of the Croatian
party of Rights) are doing, are only acts by persons on the margins
of society who are loud, but cannot pull along anyone serious,
Croatian President Stipe Mesic said in an interview published by
Sarajevo's press agency, ONASA, on Friday.
Mesic asserted that behind bilious public reactions stand persons
scared of the possibility they could now lose their illegally-
achieved privileges granted to them by the former ruling Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ).
"They also know that this is now a democratic country and that
nothing can happen to them in it," Mesic said, admitting some acts
to which there should be reactions, are left without responses
because they fail to achieve agreement within the incumbent ruling
six-party coalition.
The former authority had for years "swept under the carpet"
numerous criminal cases, and now the new government has to deal with
them, Mesic said.
Confirming his good cooperation with Prime Minister Ivica Racan,
Mesic added it was not the least bit strange Racan does not smile
like he does.
"He (Racan) is an optimist, but it is also certain that he is not
joyful. Since the government saw the country's debts and an empty
till, it is clear one cannot be satisfied. However, it is important
that the government has opted for a development strategy which will
lead to a solution to these issues," Mesic said.
Commenting on accusations against the incumbent Croatian
government periodically made by leaders of the HDZ of Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Mesic said the Croatia today never let anybody down
because its leaders have always advocated Bosnia-Herzegovina being
an integral state.
"The forces which had, together with Anto Jelavic, Mate Boban and
others, brought destruction to Bosnia-Herzegovina are gone ... I
believe Jelavic (president of the HDZ BiH) could draw certain
conclusions because state borders will not be changing and Bosnia-
Herzegovina must have a joint army under one command and with one
source of financing," Mesic said, stressing in the future,
"everybody will pay for their own defence".
He expressed expectation that general elections scheduled in
Bosnia-Herzegovina for November would continue the trend noticed
at municipal elections held this April.
Mesic announced he would participate in a conference on occasion of
the fifth anniversary of the peace agreement for Bosnia taking part
in Dayton from November 16 to 19.
According to him, "the next phase in the implementation of the
Dayton Agreement" will be defined on this occasion, and the
conference will also focus on the future status of Kosovo and
Montenegro.
(hina) lml