Answering questions from the press in his office, Josipovic said that one should distinguish between "the suffering of innocent people, regardless of who they may be, and political events which sometimes abuse such occasions."

Reporters wanted to know Josipovic's position on commemorations of the Remembrance Day for Croatian victims in the fight for freedom and independence, which is observed on May 15, with the central commemoration being held at Bleiburg, Austria. This topic will be discussed by the parliament later in the day.

"We know that during death marches many people were killed who should not have been killed, that crimes were committed and that this should be commemorated," said Josipovic, recalling that he attended commemorations at both Tezno and Bleiburg.

"However, the context is important. Things that have been happening at the Bleiburg commemoration for years are contrary to the spirit of the Croatian Constitution and its traditions. We know that there have been cases of people attending the commemoration in uniforms and with insignia that are part of the Ustasha tradition," Josipovic said.

On the subject of artificial insemination, Josipovic said he considered as reasonable a request by religious communities that the deadline for a debate on a bill on artificial insemination be extended so that the issue could be thoroughly debated.

Also today, the leader of the strongest opposition Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party, Jadranka Kosor, said her party would propose at a session of the Parliament Presidency to be held this afternoon, that the Bleiburg commemoration should continue to be held under the auspices of the parliament. She added that the government was using the issue of Bleiburg to divert the public's attention from the current difficult economic situation in the country.