ZAGREB, Dec 28 (Hina) - Defence Minister Jozo Rados on Thursday refuted an allegation published in a daily newspaper to the effect that a brigadier of the armed forces, Werner Ilic, had been preparing a coup d'etat and assassinations
of top state and military officials. We established the allegation was unfounded after talking to Ilic, Rados told reporters at a Christmas/New Year's reception given by President Stipe Mesic. Mesic said he knew about the case only from the newspapers and that he never met Ilic. We have to have confidence in the institutions and services of the Croatian Armed Forces, they will carry out all the necessary tasks and there is no reason for nervousness, he asserted. "For me there is no fear and I think too much has been made of it." Asked about the possibility that presidential adviser on defence and military affairs Imra Agotic might be summoned to testify before UN's war crimes
ZAGREB, Dec 28 (Hina) - Defence Minister Jozo Rados on Thursday
refuted an allegation published in a daily newspaper to the effect
that a brigadier of the armed forces, Werner Ilic, had been
preparing a coup d'etat and assassinations of top state and
military officials.
We established the allegation was unfounded after talking to Ilic,
Rados told reporters at a Christmas/New Year's reception given by
President Stipe Mesic.
Mesic said he knew about the case only from the newspapers and that
he never met Ilic. We have to have confidence in the institutions
and services of the Croatian Armed Forces, they will carry out all
the necessary tasks and there is no reason for nervousness, he
asserted. "For me there is no fear and I think too much has been made
of it."
Asked about the possibility that presidential adviser on defence
and military affairs Imra Agotic might be summoned to testify
before UN's war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Minister Rados said
speculations on the matter were detrimental and that public
statements "weaken the position of all of us and of all who talk
about it. It shouldn't be speculated on, especially not by those
performing responsible tasks."
The media should presume, but politicians should not, said Rados.
Speaking about relations between the Defence Ministry and Agotic,
Rados said efforts should be made to make them good in spite of some
different views on certain difficulties and issues.
Relations between Agotic and the ministry recently escalated after
the presidential adviser told a daily newspaper that the Croatian
Armed Forces did not commit crimes during Flash and Storm, 1995
operations which liberated territories then occupied by Serb
rebels, but that the crimes occurred when the military police and
the Interior Ministry entered those regions.
(hina) ha