The leader of the association of disabled Homeland War veterans HVIDRA, Josip Djakic, said on Monday that his association was against the proposal coming from the Office of the President to publish the register of veterans from the 1990s war, dismissing it as "petty politicking of some individuals".
Speaking at a news conference, Djakic said the Constitution and relevant laws prevented the publishing of the veterans' register, adding that veterans' associations at the national level were against the initiative.
"We are competent to speak about the register and about when and how it can or cannot be made public," Djakic said, adding that he was against the notion that all veterans' associations and all veterans supported the publishing of the register.
"The Constitution and a number of relevant laws currently prevent the publishing of the register, and the President of the Republic and his special advisor on war veterans should be aware of that fact and respect it," Djakic said.
"We have concluded that if we want to discuss the number of veterans, we have to hold meetings," Djakic said, adding that the figure of more than 500,000 veterans was realistic.
The President has the right and possibility, as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, to check with his advisor the lists of the Defence Ministry and identify fake veterans, Djakic said.
Djakic was supported by several other representatives of veterans' associations at the national level, who opposed the proposal to publish the veterans' register, saying that by making such a proposal President Josipovic's advisor Predrag Matic was trying to win himself a general's rank.
