FORMER HHO PRESIDENT DISQUALIFIED BY COMPROMISING LETTER IN VIENNA VOTE

ZAGREB, Nov 8 (Hina) - A former Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO) president, Ivan Zvonimir Cicak, claims that a compromising letter prevented his election as the International Helsinki Federation (IHF) president. Cicak, who was recently nominated for the post of the International Helsinki Federation president, said that the letter occurred before the voting procedure, which took place in Vienna on Saturday night. "There was an unimaginable 'war' aimed at my discrimination and there was a shameful letter which circulated through the hall, and I will make it known to the press as soon as I return to Zagreb. Someone who is familiar with this kind of dirty tricks released this compromising letter, prior to the beginning of the voting procedure", Cicak said in Sunday's issue of the "Vecernji List" daily. He added that because of the letter, some of the national committees which had nominated him, gave their votes to his opponent. Among other things, the letter accuses Cicak of having kept secret a whole series of alleged cases of prosecution, assaults and executions in Croatia, including the execution of Serbs in Gospic. It is further claimed in the letter that one of Cicak's friends was involved in these executions. Dismissing the claims as 'absurd', Cicak said that he was the first to "make known what actually happened in Gospic". According to the "Vecernji List" article, the authors of the letter are a group of former HHO members and supporters. Former HHO member Daniel Ivin denied that he was the author of the letter bearing his initials and alleged signature. "I had no knowledge of Cicak's nomination nor am I the author of the text I am being charged with. I can only say the letter is a vicious forgery", Ivin told Vecernji List. Cicak received votes from seven national Helsinki committees. His main opponent, Russia's Ludmila Alexeyeva, was elected the new IHF president with a majority vote. (hina) rml