ZAGREB, Feb 21 (Hina) - The statement by Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) parliamentary deputy Damir Kajin that the Croatian Army had been a party army provoked a storm of objections and rebuttals at a session on Thursday, which
ended with Kajin's being warned by the chairman of the session and his apologising to other MPs who requested an apology. Responding to Kajin's claim that the Croatian Army had been established as a party army, Branimir Glavas of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said this theory had been promoted by Belgrade and Slobodan Milosevic. These claims are false, he stressed. HDZ whip Vladimir Seks added that Kajin was defending Milosevic, to which Kajin said that Seks "too frequently acted and spoke like Milosevic." Seks replied that Kajin was not aware of what he was saying if he claimed, like Milosevic, that the Croatian Army had been the first party army
ZAGREB, Feb 21 (Hina) - The statement by Istrian Democratic
Assembly (IDS) parliamentary deputy Damir Kajin that the Croatian
Army had been a party army provoked a storm of objections and
rebuttals at a session on Thursday, which ended with Kajin's being
warned by the chairman of the session and his apologising to other
MPs who requested an apology.
Responding to Kajin's claim that the Croatian Army had been
established as a party army, Branimir Glavas of the Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ) said this theory had been promoted by
Belgrade and Slobodan Milosevic. These claims are false, he
stressed. HDZ whip Vladimir Seks added that Kajin was defending
Milosevic, to which Kajin said that Seks "too frequently acted and
spoke like Milosevic." Seks replied that Kajin was not aware of what
he was saying if he claimed, like Milosevic, that the Croatian Army
had been the first party army in Europe after Hitler.
This resulted in the chairman of the session, Baltazar Jalsovec,
warning Kajin.
After a short break, HDZ whip Seks demanded that Kajin apologise for
"his, to say the least, inconsiderate and historically unfounded
claims." He added that Kajin had negated the Constitution and the
parliamentary Declaration on the Homeland War, which defined the
Homeland War as a struggle of all citizens, regardless of their
political affiliation. Kajin's claims resemble Milosevic's recent
claim before the Hague war crimes tribunal that the Croatian Army
was an HDZ army, he said.
Responding to Seks, Kajin did not apologise directly but said his
statement about the party army referred to the very beginning of
establishment of the country's armed forces.
He dismissed accusations that he had negated the Constitution and
the Homeland War Declaration and spoken like Milosevic.
"I can accept arguments, but not insults," he said.
The session resumed with comments by party whips on a strategy of
national security.
(hina) sb rml