President of the Republic Stjepan Mesić stated today, in response to a journalist’s request, that the uncovering of corruption at the University of Zagreb in the Index action must not be “entertainment” and that he expects results involving “bigger fish”.
When asked during the awarding of scholarships within the “Top Scholarships for Top Students” initiative whether the current course of the Index action has harmed the reputation of the University of Zagreb, which has over 300 years of tradition, Mesić said that only the naive can think that this case has not harmed the reputation of the University, not just Zagreb’s. “If it was possible at the oldest university, then it is certainly possible at some younger universities,” he continued, asserting that matters must be resolved to the end.
Some damage has certainly occurred, but even greater damage would have occurred had the crime continued, and the students were aware of this, emphasized President Mesić. When asked whether this anti-corruption action will also end disgracefully like some before it, Mesić reiterated that he does not want police work to take on the form of entertainment for the public, but rather to assist in the healing of society and the punishment of those who act unlawfully. However, this has not yet happened, Mesić said, adding that million-dollar accounts of those who plundered Croatia during the Homeland War and immediately after have not yet been found. (H)
