ORAHOVICA, Sept 30 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic said in Orahovica on Saturday his decision to retire seven active generals had been the only possible one and that he made it without any vacillation, in line with his
constitutional duties.
ORAHOVICA, Sept 30 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic said in
Orahovica on Saturday his decision to retire seven active generals
had been the only possible one and that he made it without any
vacillation, in line with his constitutional duties.#L#
Asked by reporters why he had not consulted with the defence
minister, Mesic said that "neither under the Constitution nor under
the law do I have to consult with anyone to take a decision."
"Where did you see commanders consult with someone? You either take
a decision or you don't. If you set to a task, you have to be able to
take decisions and I do it. We consult about what we have to consult
about," he said.
Mesic decided to retire the seven generals yesterday. They were
among the 12 signatories of Thursday's open letter in which they
called on state institutions and the media to oppose the negative
and false presentation of the Homeland Defence War, Croatia's early
1990s war of independence from the former Yugoslav federation.
Mesic said his decision was stopping the situation in the country
from becoming more radical, and that there was not one reason why it
should aggravate relations between his office and the government,
and no reason for the defence minister to resign.
The president refuted speculation that the Croatian army was on the
alert due to the retirement of the seven generals, and that the
retirements might jeopardise the army's command structure. Only a
few of the generals held command duties, he said.
"Every commander has a deputy and this is all regulated. Nothing is
directed against the Croatian army, which has to protect Croatian
borders and can't settle internal political issues."
Asked if the army was on the alert over the situation in
neighbouring Yugoslavia, Mesic said "the events in... Yugoslavia
are a different matter and we have to be ready because (Yugoslav
President) Milosevic is an irrational man who never made decisions
which could be predicted or lead to a peaceful solution for
conflicts."
Asked whether there was danger that internal political issues were
settled outside institutions, Mesic said "wishes (to this effect)
do exist, but there are no possibilities." He did not say who he was
referring to.
"If Croatia wants to open new jobs (it) has to be attractive for
foreign capital and therefore function as a law-based state in
which everyone can fight for their rights, through but not outside
institutions," said Mesic.
Commenting on General Ljubo Cesic Rojs' request that he, too, be
retired, the president said "his wish will soon be granted, but Rojs
first has to say thank-you for the mandate in parliament."
(hina) ha