Minister of the Interior Ranko Ostojic has banned two gatherings of extreme right parties that were to have been organised by the Croatian Pure Party of Rights (HCSP) in Zagreb on Friday and Saturday.
Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic announced the minister's decision at a session of the government on Thursday, noting that the reasons for the ban had to do with one's world view and political positions.
"Those who in their platforms call for destruction of Croatia's constitutional order and lay claims to parts of Croatia's territory - and such people have been announced as participants (in the gatherings) - they can visit Croatia as tourists, but they cannot come here as political opponents," Milanovic said explaining Ostojic's decision to ban the rallies announced for April 13 and 14.
Milanovic said that the government had a responsibility towards its citizens to oppose such ideologies.
"Such things won't be tolerated, not now and not ever," he said.
Earlier this week, the HCSP said it would organise in Zagreb on Friday an international nationalist conference to be attended by representatives of far-right parties from several European countries, including the Hungarian Jobbik party which has openly laid claims to parts of Croatia's territory.
The HCSP was also to have organised a march in Zagreb on Saturday in support of Croatian generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac, with participants in the nationalist conference taking part in the march.
