Zagreb, (IKA) – The Croatian bishops assembled at the three-day spring plenary session in Zagreb met with Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Minister Božo Biškupić on May 13, with whom they discussed the proposal by the Hague prosecution to expand the indictments against General Ivan Čermak and General Mladen Markač, which in recent days has provoked a storm of reaction among the Croatian public, and also the progress of Croatia’s negotiations regarding entry into the European Union.

At a press conference at the Secretariat of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Ivan Devčić of Rijeka reported that the Croatian prime minister had told the bishops that the announced proposal for the expansion of the indictments is untenable. The prime minister’s position is that people should not become discouraged and Croatia will fight for its place in the European Union.

The archbishop of Rijeka explained that the bishops see Croatia’s future as a member of the European Union. They are united in this position and it will be one of the items on the afternoon agenda of the plenary session.

Bishop Ante Ivas of Šibenik also spoke about the expansion of the indictment, stating that the bishops share the attitude of the nation that it is untenable for anyone to behave in such a manner toward a sovereign nation and Croatia should belong to Europe in an institutional manner.