ZAGREB, Oct 2 (Hina) - The decision on the retirement of generals, which is final, does not encroach upon anybody's participation in the Homeland Defence War, and it also does not polarise the public but calms down the situation in
Croatia, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said on Monday prior to his departure for Bulgaria on a two-day official visit.
ZAGREB, Oct 2 (Hina) - The decision on the retirement of generals,
which is final, does not encroach upon anybody's participation in
the Homeland Defence War, and it also does not polarise the public
but calms down the situation in Croatia, Croatian President Stjepan
Mesic said on Monday prior to his departure for Bulgaria on a two-
day official visit.#L#
"It will not be moderated, the decision is final," Mesic said in a
short statement answering a question whether the decision would be
modified considering some generals.
As regards General Damir Krsticevic, the President said his destiny
depended on his further conduct.
General Krsticevic is the only of the seven retired generals -
signatories to the open letter, who has admitted that he should not
have signed such a letter as a soldier.
President Mesic reiterated that during the process of making this
decision on the generals' retirement it was not possible for him to
hold any consultation with Defence Minister Jozo Rados who was at
the time on Tenerife while he was in Strasbourg.
While making the decision I was not engaged in the assessment of the
contents of the generals' letter, neither did I evaluate the
participation of any of them in the Homeland Defence War.
"I accept all of them with everything they have done, but this was
absolutely another matter. Generals, officers or employees with
the Croatian Armed Forces (HV) cannot secretly make agreement on
any public address," Mesic said recalling that there was a decree of
Defence Minister of 10 April under which HV members must ask the
minister's consent before they make a public statement.
"They have failed to do so and therefore this decision has been
taken," Mesic added.
"To discuss now how much everybody contributed to the Homeland
Defence War (is wrong as) this decision does not refer to it," the
President told reporters, explaining that a part of generals acted
imprudently, and a part of them were manipulated.
Imagine if everybody in the army were allowed to make public
statements whenever they want, what kind of army it would be and how
it could function, Mesic wondered.
(hina) jn ms