DEPUTY PM REFUTES COALITION IS DEGRADING HOMELAND WAR

VUKOVAR, Sept 30 (Hina) - Deputy Prime Minister Zeljka Antunovic on Saturday dismissed accusations that Croatia's ruling six-party coalition was degrading the Homeland Defence War. She said in Vukovar she was surprised by the fact that "those who were part of that war with us now want to cross to the other side. There are many reasons why they are doing it, but there is also huge faith among the Croatian people and commitment in (the ruling coalition) to prevent anyone from turning Croatia into an isolated island." The principal task of Croatian state authorities is to ensure equal rights to all citizens and offer them equal changes for progress, said Antunovic. She asserted Croatia's situation was very difficult. "It would be good if we showed more understanding in building bridges towards those who don't believe us and think we are the enemy of this country." Commenting on yesterday's decision by the president of the republic to send into retirement seven army generals, Antunovic said that regardless of the generals' contribution to Croatia's early 1990s war of independence from the former Yugoslav federation, these generals had to bear in mind that Croatia wanted a democracy in which the military was its shield. It is not up to the generals to judge who is allegedly jeopardising the country's stability, she said. (hina) ha