HOV WILL STAGE RALLY IN PROTEST AT ZAGREB SUMMIT DESPITE POLICE BAN

ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - Despite the Interior Ministry's decision banning their protest rally in front of the 'Mimara' museum in downtown Zagreb, the Croatian Opposition Council (HOV) and its supporters will organise the rally, setting out from Zagreb's King Tomislav Square toward the 'Mimara' museum, which hosts the press centre of the Zagreb Summit on Friday, HOV spokesman and MP Anto Kovacevic said on Tuesday. The purpose of the rally is for the HOV to express its stand toward the "Balkan summit which the government should have cancelled," Kovacevic told reporters. The HOV, which gathers Christian Democrat parties (the Croatian Christian Democratic Union - HKDU, and the Croatian Pure Party of Rights, HCSP, which is not a parliamentary party), insists on individual access to the European Union so that "Croatia could avoid ending up in the Balkan den," Kovacevic said. In an open letter to the President of the Republic and Prime Minister, the association seeks answers regarding the organisation, objectives and costs of the Zagreb Summit. HCSP president Ivan Gabelica said the HOV would protest against Croatia's being dictated which associations to join and its being part of the Stability Pact for South-East Europe. The HOV opposes the arrival of Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica in Zagreb because Serbia has not apologised for the aggression against Croatia or paid war reparations, Kovacevic said. He also reminded of Croatia's southern-most Prevlaka peninsula, which, he said, Serbian politicians like (Zoran) Djindjic still regard as a territorial issue. (hina) rml