ZAGREB, Oct 28 (Hina) - The events surrounding the recent Miss +Croatia 1998 contest have caused huge political damage to Croatia, +Foreign Minister Mate Granic said on Wednesday.+ Granic spoke to reporters on the occasion of the
presentation of an +agreement on special relations between Croatia and one of Bosnia's +two entities, the Croat-Muslim Federation.+ "Direct responsibility lies with the contest's organiser", said +Granic.+ The 1998 contest proclaimed Lejla Sehovic as Miss Croatia, but her +election was subsequently annulled due to violations of voting +rules by certain members of the jury. A repeated voting elected +Sehovic's first runner-up Ivana Petkovic as Miss Croatia 1998.+ Both the domestic and international public still believe the +election of Sehovic, a Muslim from the southern Croatian port of +Dubrovnik, was contentious and then annulled due to her ethnic +belonging.+ Granic r
ZAGREB, Oct 28 (Hina) - The events surrounding the recent Miss
Croatia 1998 contest have caused huge political damage to Croatia,
Foreign Minister Mate Granic said on Wednesday.
Granic spoke to reporters on the occasion of the presentation of an
agreement on special relations between Croatia and one of Bosnia's
two entities, the Croat-Muslim Federation.
"Direct responsibility lies with the contest's organiser", said
Granic.
The 1998 contest proclaimed Lejla Sehovic as Miss Croatia, but her
election was subsequently annulled due to violations of voting
rules by certain members of the jury. A repeated voting elected
Sehovic's first runner-up Ivana Petkovic as Miss Croatia 1998.
Both the domestic and international public still believe the
election of Sehovic, a Muslim from the southern Croatian port of
Dubrovnik, was contentious and then annulled due to her ethnic
belonging.
Granic refuted that either the government or Foreign Ministry had
in any way interfered with the contest or taken part in possible
consultations on the matter.
(hina) ha jn