INTERIOR MINISTRY ON THE INCIDENT DURING THE POPE'S MASS IN SPLIT

( Editorial: --> 6293 ) ZAGREB, 6 Oct (Hina)- In a statement issued on Tuesday the Ministry of the Interior apologised to all those who have been in any way affected by the demanding security measures during the visit of the Holy Father to Croatia and expressed its regret about the incidents. The statement also refutes all allegations by the press about misunderstandings and clashes between the Ministry and the press centre in Split and claims that the Ministry and the centre carried out their respective duties to make sure that both the security and the interests of the press were fully respected. The statement also notes the facts that affected the security measures during the Pope's visit to Croatia, along with the Vatican's very high security standards. "Prior to the Holy Father's arrival to Croatia the Interior Ministry received 12 anonymous warnings, including threats with bombs, terrorist acts and assassination attempts. Three such threats were made after the Pope's arrival. All that additionally affected security measures which can be thanked for problem free stay of the Holy Father and general satisfaction of the Croatian public. The incident that occurred when a group of reporters tried to enter the open air mass in Znjan, was caused by a belated arrival of the reporters, who had been following the Pope's ceremonious convoy from the Split airport. The reporters were scheduled to arrive to Znjan from the airport in two groups, one in a van in front of the convoy and another in coaches behind it. In a telephone conversation immediately before the departure from the Split airport, the security sub-office warned the press centre that the reporters travelling behind the convoy could face certain difficulties in approaching Znjan, but they "insisted on that solution", the statement says. When asked to comment on different descriptions of the incident at Znjan in the Croatian media, where a group of reporters was prevented from entering the area fenced for the mass, head of the press center Zeljko Trkanjac said he had nothing to add to an apology to the reporters that had been issued by the press center. That sizeable group of reporters arrived to the western entrance to Znjan at the time when the Holy Father started touring the area in Papamobile. "The immediate commander of the security staff acted in accordance with his orders about the proceedings during the passing of the vehicle through the crowd. Hence, he let the reporters in only after the Pope finished his tour and reached the altar. Interior Minister Ivan Penic claims that the security measures had been planned and carried out in accordance with the demanding standards of the Vatican. He assess them as very successful, adding that during the controversial incident the police "acted very zealous, even too zealously". Minister Penic, who was at the time of the incident at the VIP stand, says he is sorry that he was not aware of the incident so that he could "use his authority to persuade the security to somehow let the press in". The press center did its best to make sure that the reporters could do their job smoothly, but in this case it caved in under the pressure from the reporters and acted contrary to the instructions from the security sub-office. Here it should be noted that everything that had been done during the organisation of the Pope's visit to Croatia served to ensure top security of the Pope and all the pilgrims, as proved by the fact that during the visit there were no traffic incidents or any other security problems either at the sights of the masses or near them, says a statement by the cabinet of the Interior Minister. (Hina) mr 062046 MET oct 98