Only Six Ministers Defended Croatia

Although Sanader claims his entire government was in the war, research shows only six ministers out of which only Kalmeta has a rank.

Prime Minister Sander, during last week`s parliamentary question time said all members of his government were Homeland War soldiers. Former minister of Homeland War soldiers Ivica Pancic used the statement, referring a letter to Minister Jadranka Kosor in which he requests indication for all government members: which commanding group they belonged to, the time they spent in the war and names of all battle-fields.

But, the Jutarnji list daily research is interesting, which stated how out of 15 government members, only six defended the country.

Sanader commissary, Jadranka journalist

During the war the today`s Prime Minister Sanader was founding Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in Tyrol, was a commissary of the Croatian National Theatre in Split, Member of Parliament, Minister of Science and Technology and the head of the President of Croatia`s Office.

Jadranka Kosor hosted a show for refugees, the exiled and sufferers of the Homeland war as a Croatian Radio journalist.

Most of them used the war time for studying and obtainng degrees. Thus Vice-Premier Damir Polancec graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb, Foreign Affairs Minister Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic polished her dyplomatic skills, and the Minister of the Interior Ivica Kirin devoted himself to the Geotechnical Faculty in Virovitica.

Only Kirin was ensign

The highest Homeland war rank has the Minister of Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development Bozidar Kalmeta, who has the status of a volunteer and ensign. Kalmeta, namely, actively took part in the defence of Zadar from its hinterland, and was member of the navy.

The remaining five who saw the war are Science Minister Primorac who was also Franjo Tudjman`s bodyguard, and who lost five friends in the war.

Health Minister Ljubicic was a doctor in Banovina during the war, while Finance Minister Ivan Suker took part in organising the defence of Velika Gorica and Zagreb and was the negotiator with the barracks. It is interesting how Suker never requested for the Homeland war soldier status.

Defence Minister Berislav Roncevic was a member of Military Police in Osijek, and the only credit for war maerit is the memorial. Petar Cobankovic, Agriculture Minister was the Crisis Headquarters president for Ilok and government`s man in charge of contacting the UNPROFOR in vukovar.