Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader Tomislav Karamarko once again on Tuesday called for a moratorium on the introduction of the Cyrillic alphabet as an official alphabet in Vukovar, even though he admitted that the HDZ had voted both in the national parliament and Vukovar city council for the constitutional provision stipulating that minorities be guaranteed dual-alphabet signs. However, he said, last year the party leadership had been changed and he did not wish to interpret the opinion of HDZ's previous leaders.
At a press conference in the party's headquarters, Karamarko expressed his support to Vukovar residents and Croatian veterans and their recent protest rally in that town objecting to the official use of Cyrillic.
"The enforcement of the constitutional law of 2002 at the moment is inciting negative reactions of the majority population in Vukovar where the wounds of war are still fresh and people who raped women are still walking the streets. Vukovar is especially sensitive to these proposals which are being introduced just now without any cause", said Karamarko.
He called for a postponement in introducing the Cyrillic alphabet referring to an article in the constitutional law which stipulates that provisions must be interpreted and applied for the purpose of respect of ethnic minorities, developing understanding, solidarity, tolerance and dialogue between minorities and the Croatian people,
"Is this rash decision contributing to tolerance and dialogue?", Karamarko asked and called on the Serb minority to have "understanding toward the majority which is still sensitive to all that occurred twenty years ago".
He added that it was indicative that this issue was being put in focus when Croatia's credit rating was being downgraded.
Karamarko said that the government had not done anything to resolve contentious issues with Slovenia and added that the premier Zoran Milanovic "should explain his private relationships with the now defunct Ljubljanska Bank", questioning whether the PM was in conflict of interest which could throw a dark shadow on that entire problem, according to the Opposition leader.
