FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT ON PRESENTATION OF MEDAL TO BLASKIC

ZAGREB, Dec 11 (Hina) - The Croatian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday in connection with "incomplete media reports and reactions by certain institutions" regarding the presentation of two military medals to the wife of General Tihomir Blaskic. "In accordance with the common practice of awarding military medals, the President of the Republic of Croatia, Franjo Tudjman, acting at the proposal of relevant institutions of 27 October 1995, passed a decision to award "Summer 95" and "Storm" medals to prominent participants in the two military operations, both from the Republic of Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina. "By that decision the "Summer 95" and "Storm" medals were awarded, among others, to 11,513 members of the HVO (Croatian Defence Council) for participating in "Operation Summer 95" and to 7,392 HVO members, including General Blaskic, for participating in "Operation Storm." "General Tihomir Blaskic, in his capacity as chief of staff of the HVO, the regular forces of the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina, participated in and commanded some segments of military operations "Summer 95" and "Storm". "It is known that "Summer 95" was a joint action by the HVO, the Army of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Croatian Army, based on the Split Declaration signed in July 1995 by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Franjo Tudjman, and the President of the then Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegovic. "Thanks to the success of the said military operations, more than a thousand-day-long siege of Bihac, a UN-protected area, was broken and the Republic of Croatia liberated most of its occupied areas. "This, along with subsequent actions by NATO and the Rapid Reaction Force, created conditions for the beginning of a peace process which ended, following negotiations in Dayton, with the signing of peace accords in Paris on 14 December 1995. "The point is that the medals presented to participants in "Operation Summer 95" (July-August 1995) and "Operation Storm" (August 1995) were awarded more than a year ago," the statement concluded. (hina) vm 112219 MET dec 96