Pusic said the HNS had always fought against any kind of discrimination and its officials had attended Pride parades in Zagreb and Split for the sake of higher human rights standards and equality of all citizens.

Vrdoljak said that the Pride parade in Split was a first-class political issue and that the time had come in Croatia to say "No" to violence, stoning and insults and to start enforcing laws.

Asked what impact possible violence at the Split parade could have on Croatia's EU accession, Pusic said the event was an opportunity for Croatia and its leadership to make it clear that they support anti-discrimination laws. The Croatian society has a task to raise civil equality to a higher level, she said.

Asked to comment on claims by women raped in the 1991-1995 Homeland War that she had not found the time to receive them for talks, while she actively supported the rights of LGBT people, Pusic said she was absolutely ready to discuss with women raped in the war the punishment of war crimes, noting that rape in war was one of the gravest war crimes.

She stressed that the talks should also include representatives of relevant state institutions, such as the Justice Ministry, the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor and the Gender Equality Ombudsperson.

She added that she supported the fight against all types of violence, adding that she expected all people who were victims of violence and were fighting against it to be consistent and also support and participate in the Gay Pride parade.