The eastern Croatian town of Dalj on Sunday commemorated the 19th anniversary of a massacre of 20 policemen, 15 Croatian soldiers and four Civil Defence members, committed by Serb rebels, supported by the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA).
The commemoration, which included wreath-laying ceremonies in front of the Dalj police station building, was attended by Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, Interior Minister Tomislav Karamarko, Croatian Army representatives, Osijek-Baranja County officials and members of war veterans associations.
Minister Karamarko was announced as the first speaker, however, Osijek-Baranja County prefect Vladimir Sisljagic came to the stage instead. Expressing his dissatisfaction, Sisljagic said that under the government's protocol he should have been the first to address the meeting.
The next to address those present was Minister Karamarko who said that it was neither the time nor the place for scoring political points.
Prime Minister Kosor also criticised Siljagic's behaviour.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Sisljagic said that the reason why Kosor arrived in Dalj was to "cushion" the effects of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the guilty verdict against Branimir Glavas for war crimes.
