"In any case these aren't statements made by individuals, regardless of how irresponsible they may be and they aren't a fight between two groups of youths in Kistanje, regardless of what motivated the fight. Even though we have to be concerned if these were inspired by inter-ethnic relations, the problems lie elsewhere", Karamarko said in an interview with Croatian Radio.

Asked to comment on statements made earlier by Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic following an attack on Orthodox seminarians in Kistanje on Sunday, in which Milanovic said that right-wing parties, in their incompetence for anything else, were articulating and spreading pure, distilled hatred toward those who were guests and toward those who are not citizens, Karamarko said that this was an irresponsible and tactless statement.

"Unfortunately, Prime Minister Milanovic has had several such statements and outbursts. I hope that that fight was not inspired by inter-ethnic relations and it is up to the police to investigate what happened and those responsible should be punished. This is something that should not be happening in a modern Croatia on the doorstep to the European Union", Karamarko said, adding however that it was irresponsible to blame everyone else for that.

The PM has lost his compass and I would recommend that he take more note of the fact that 700 people are continuing to lose their jobs every day and for him to finally see that Croatia attracts some good quality investments, Karamarko said.

He underscored that the PM was at war with the unions, with employers, journalists, the Opposition.

"He's at war with himself. He's at war with the facts and truth about the Homeland War. He's at war with the truth and facts about the Croatian state and its past 20 years. He's at war with his incompetence because he isn't capable to run the government and this government is incapable to lead this country out of its problems," said Karamarko.

He repeated that the prime minister should step down because he didn't know how to pull the country out of its economic problems and because he could not lead Croatia into the EU as a proud country but one that will "become (the EU's) problem because of our irresponsible economic policies.

"Milanovic's statement about a civil war falls into a different sphere of his problems. It is sad that he is not clear with what happened in the nineties in Croatia. None of us would ever consider calling it a civil war", said Karamarko, recalling that Croatia was attacked and exposed to Greater Serbia and Chetnik military aggression.

Karamarko did not wish to comment on a statement by Croatian Party of Rights Dr. Ante Starcevic president and MP Ruza Tomasic about "guests in Croatia".

"Everyone is responsible for their own words and has to answer for them and explain why and how they say something. Often, as the premier himself has said, words are taken out of context and interpreted differently", Karamarko said.

He pointed out that the HDZ did not support hate talk nor ethnic divisions nor did it look at people according to ethnicity but exclusively based on competence and how useful someone is to society and the country. He did not regret putting Tomasic on the HDZ slate for the European Parliament.

Earlier on Monday, president of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) Branko Hrg said that PM Milanovic should take more care of what he says about the Homeland War.

The prime minister should take more care of what he says. Croatia was in a defensive war and an ugly aggression was waged against us, Hrg said, adding that any mention of civil war was damaging and irritated people. Statements of this nature could be dangerous for Croatia, he said.