ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Wednesday refuted opposition leaders' claims that during his recent visit to the UK he called on London to get involved in Croatia's coming parliamentary election.
ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on
Wednesday refuted opposition leaders' claims that during his
recent visit to the UK he called on London to get involved in
Croatia's coming parliamentary election. #L#
"I didn't talk about elections either with my interlocutors or at
Chatham House, Britain's leading foreign affairs forum. I neither
wish nor can argue with headlines," Racan told reporters commenting
on claims by the opposition and media allegations that on his UK
trip he said that if the incumbent authorities were penalised at the
November polls, Croatia might get a government lacking democratic
views.
Racan said he delivered a 90-minute speech in Chatham House,
answered questions, and that it was not good to take out one
sentence that was said.
The PM said that without mentioning the election, he pointed to one
issue, the case of Ante Gotovina, who is wanted by the Hague war
crimes tribunal, saying that "we can't accept to have Croatia
penalised for something for which no argument is produced. I said
that if this were to continue, it would encourage isolationists,
not only in Croatia but in the wider region too, as well as those who
don't want to cooperate in some issues, for example cooperation
with the Hague tribunal".
Racan said that in Chatham House he also spoke about Zagreb's
cooperation with the U.N. tribunal and answered questions.
"Perhaps our authorities will be criticised or punished and we'll
be faced with authorities who don't have the democratic stance that
justice has to be done," the PM told a journalist in the UK when
asked how he intended to convince his British counterpart Tony
Blair that Croatia is cooperating with the Hague tribunal given
that General Gotovina is at large.
(hina) ha sb