On the occasion of the introduction of Cyrillic in Vukovar and with the appearance of graffiti this morning in Dubrovnik, member of the European Parliament and head of the delegation of the Croatian Democratic Union in the European Parliament Dubravka Šuica issued the following press release:

"The current SDP government, through its unfortunate raising of signs quietly in the night, has further provoked the already suffering citizens of Vukovar at the wrong time. And all to draw attention away from the too many political and economic problems that Croatia is facing.

The Croatian Democratic Union is not against bilingualism, but we believe that in accordance with Article 8 of the Constitutional Law on National Minorities, minority rights must be interpreted and applied with respect for minorities and the Croatian majority by developing understanding, solidarity, tolerance and mutual dialogue. Therefore we deem this act of the Croatian Government a violation of the law.

The uncivilized act of graffiti that appeared this morning in Dubrovnik, is not the position of the people of Dubrovnik. It is a message from a minority that does not follow the centuries-long humanity and civilized traditions of Dubrovnik. For us Vukovar is a place of piety. We understand the people of Vukovar and acknowledge their pain because their pain is our pain, and therefore we seek a moratorium on the introduction of Cyrillic.

As a citizen of Dubrovnik, Croatia and Europe, two-term mayor, and now as a member of the European Parliament I abhor and condemn the disgraceful graffiti, which has unfortunately appeared on cultural monuments, and I find them an unacceptable means of communication."