ZAGREB, Sept 29 (Hina) - On the occasion of Police Day and the Day of St. Michael, the patron saint of police, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Wednesday received an Interior Ministry delegation headed by Minister Ivan Penic.
Extending his best wishes to all members of the police on the occasion of Police Day, and expressing gratitude for their contribution in defending Croatia during the Homeland War, President Tudjman pointed to the importance of their role. Croatia, the President said, is "in circumstances which still don't tend to a normal functioning of state administration, including the Interior Ministry, ahead of which is the special task of ensuring the safety of citizens, order, and the respecting of the regularities and the interests of state independence." "In that respect, there is perhaps no country which (like Croatia) is subjected to so many secret and public activities aimed at
ZAGREB, Sept 29 (Hina) - On the occasion of Police Day and the Day of
St. Michael, the patron saint of police, Croatian President Franjo
Tudjman on Wednesday received an Interior Ministry delegation
headed by Minister Ivan Penic.
Extending his best wishes to all members of the police on the
occasion of Police Day, and expressing gratitude for their
contribution in defending Croatia during the Homeland War,
President Tudjman pointed to the importance of their role.
Croatia, the President said, is "in circumstances which still don't
tend to a normal functioning of state administration, including the
Interior Ministry, ahead of which is the special task of ensuring
the safety of citizens, order, and the respecting of the
regularities and the interests of state independence."
"In that respect, there is perhaps no country which (like Croatia)
is subjected to so many secret and public activities aimed at
overthrowing the present authority," President Tudjman said,
adding that was the reason why greater results were expected of
security services, "not only reactions to deeds already done, but
anticipation and prevention of such occurrences."
"We are in the election year and elections are important, not so
much for the sake of authorities, but for the sake of preserving
Croatia's freedom and independence", Tudjman said.
He asserted some could still not reconcile themselves with a
politically and economically stable Croatia. They want to return to
Balkan and Southeast European frameworks, where the great majority
of the Croatian people would never want to return, he said.
"We must sever the bonds between the external and internal
antagonists of Croatia who consent to such actions, and among whom
are former agents who are still very loud in the tabloids,"
President Tudjman said.
He added, "I am against persecutions, but I do advocate that they be
told that we have insight into their activities and that sooner or
later, they will be called to account."
The Interior Ministry has to be even more successful in preserving
the social and constitutional/legal order, and prevent possible
incidents, which are being planned by those who want to destabilise
Croatia, he said.
Pointing to the difficulties caused by the transition from the
communist system into democracy, and to the consequences of the
aggression against Croatia, as well as to the side-effects of
civilisation, such as drug abuse, Tudjman said he expected Croatian
police to be even more successful in its activities.
On behalf of all Interior Ministry members, Minister Penic pledged
commitment and allegiance to the Croatian Constitution state
policy.
Penic said 813 police officers were killed and 3,524 were wounded
during the Serb aggression, whereas 78 are filed as missing. He said
the Interior Ministry was willing to face all challenges in the
preservation of peace and order, to the benefit of all Croatian
citizens, and thanked Tudjman for his support and understanding for
police work.
(hina) ha/rml jn