"In democratic countries, the main job of organisations such as the association of generals is to preserve military traditions and support the defence system. As a civic, primarily non-political organisation, the association chooses its own activities. But meddling in daily politics brings two dangers," Josipovic said asked to comment on recent criticisms against the incumbent government issued by retired generals.

"The first (danger) is the one of the organisation itself. Just like everyone else in the society, the generals too have different opinions and different political beliefs. Their organisation's meddling into daily politics will lead to their dispersal and abandonment of their main purpose why they associated. On the other hand, the political activities of the organisation, even though it is a civil society has a military connotation and leads to awkward associations to the militarisation of politics, which certainly is not good. It would be better if the retired generals want to be in politics to join a political party," the president said.

About 50 retired Croatian army generals gathered at a meeting of their nongovernmental organisation HGZ in Zagreb on Saturday, after which their representatives said that Croatia had for years not had a stable policy towards Homeland War veterans, generals and the Croatian people, and that from now on they would speak their mind about every problem in society.