“Croatian peacekeepers withdrawn over incidents”

ZAGREB Croatia’s Deputy Defense Minister Visnja Tafra says Croatian peacekeepers were not recalled from Syria because of the New York Times’ arms sale allegations. Tafra stressed that the peacekeepers had been withdrawn because of incidents. “Croatian peacekeepers withdrawn over incidents” She has therefore denied Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic’s allegations. Tafra said at the Croatian parliament’s session that the Croatian troops had been withdrawn from the peacekeeping mission because of three incidents, Zagreb-based daily Jutarnji list writes. Noting that the real reasons to return the troops to Croatia are much more serious, the daily writes that the public learned about the issue after four days. “In February, nine serious incidents happened in the Austrian battalion’s area of responsibility, two incidents in the Philippine battalion’s area of responsibility and three incidents in the Croatian troops’ area of responsibility,” Tafra stated. According to her, the Croatian troops had their weapons taken away after the incident and a decision was made to withdraw them. Tafra said that other UN peacekeepers were abducted after the decision had been made to withdraw the Croatian troops. “This happened in a period between the moment the president made a decision to withdraw the troops and the moment our members arrived in Croatia,” she explained and added that the believed this was definitely a sufficient security reason President Ivo Josipovic and the prime minister had had the moment they made a decision to withdraw the Croatian troops. Milanovic said on several occasions earlier that Croatian troops would be withdrawn because he was worried about their safety after Zagreb media reported the New York Times’ allegations that Croatia had been supplying Syrian rebels with arms. Tanjug

“Croatian peacekeepers withdrawn over incidents”

She has therefore denied Prime Minister Zoran Milanović’s allegations.

Tafra said at the Croatian parliament’s session that the Croatian troops had been withdrawn from the peacekeeping mission because of three incidents, Zagreb-based daily Jutarnji list writes.

Noting that the real reasons to return the troops to Croatia are much more serious, the daily writes that the public learned about the issue after four days.

“In February, nine serious incidents happened in the Austrian battalion’s area of responsibility, two incidents in the Philippine battalion’s area of responsibility and three incidents in the Croatian troops’ area of responsibility,” Tafra stated.

According to her, the Croatian troops had their weapons taken away after the incident and a decision was made to withdraw them. Tafra said that other UN peacekeepers were abducted after the decision had been made to withdraw the Croatian troops.

“This happened in a period between the moment the president made a decision to withdraw the troops and the moment our members arrived in Croatia,” she explained and added that the believed this was definitely a sufficient security reason President Ivo Josipović and the prime minister had had the moment they made a decision to withdraw the Croatian troops.

Milanović said on several occasions earlier that Croatian troops would be withdrawn because he was worried about their safety after Zagreb media reported the New York Times’ allegations that Croatia had been supplying Syrian rebels with arms.