Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Sunday afternoon visited the protesting disabled veterans who had been rallying outside the War Veterans' Ministry for seven days in a row, and called on them to come to the parliament building and discuss their problems there, while protesters' representatives responded that they would come to the Sabor only if Prime Minister Zoran Milanović relieved War Veterans Affairs' Minister Predrag Matić and his two closest associates of their duties.
"I have come here to tell you that the Sabor is open to you," Leko said during the talks with the disgruntled protesters in a tent they set up on the ministry's premises. He called for finding a solution "in line with democratic principle and in the supreme institution of our state, that is the parliament". I can understand your individual issues, however I cannot solve them but relevant agencies can, and when it comes to your general demands, it should be discussed in the Sabor. It would be wise discuss the rights of war veterans at the institutions, and the Sabor is the best place, he said. He also called on the protestors to discontinue the sit-in due to unfavourable weather conditions, given that four protestors collapsed earlier on Sunday and had to be admitted to the hospital.
One of the leaders of the protest, Đuro Glogoški, thanked Leko for having visited them and for him understanding them, however, he said that they would come to the parliament with their problems only after PM Milanović fired Matić and his two associates.
President Ivo Josipović, accompanied by War Veterans' Affairs Minister Matić, on Friday evening paid an unannounced visit to protesting veterans who had been rallying outside the ministry. (Hina)