VETERANS ANNOUNCE PROTEST AGAINST KOSTUNICA'S VISIT TO CROATIA

SPLIT, Nov 14 (Hina) - The pivotal Centre for the Protection of the Dignity of the Croatian Homeland Defence War based in Split announced Tuesday the veterans would hold the biggest protest rally on November 24 as protest against the arrival of Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica to Zagreb. The rally will take place on the same day of the Zagreb Summit with the motto "For a European Croatia -- Against Balkan Executioner". The series of protests will begin on November 21 in Split, and other Homeland Defence War soldiers will also hold rallies in other towns across Croatia. "It is scandalous and unforgivable that the Croatian government authority would forgive executioners to whom the international community is also giving financial assistance," the Centre's vice- president, Petar Kacunko, said, adding the veterans would not accept such conduct of the authority. All towns' centres for the protection of the Homeland Defence War dignity would hold rallies not just out of protest against Kostunica's arrival to Zagreb, but also against Croatian officials who never questioned Kostunica about the whereabouts of missing or imprisoned Croatian soldiers. Kacunko slammed President Mesic for expecting "a declared Chetnik and Serb nationalist" Kostunica with all honours and words of apology for "an unnecessary war for both sides". We cannot turn a deaf ear to such statements by the Croatian President, he asserted. (hina) lml