ZAGREB, 27.04.2018. – CJA strongly condemns lies Ivan Zvonimir Čičak said about journalists Ivana Dragičević (N1) and Zrinka Vrabec Mojzeš (Nacional Weekly) in „Otvoreno“ show at HTV 1 yesterday, April 25, 2018.
The topic was relationship between Serbia and Croatia and Ivan Zvonimir Čičak, without any proves, denounced our colleagues Dragičević and Vrabec Mojzeš. He insisted that they were sent to Finland by the Finland Embassy in Croatia to interview Finland president Sauli Niinistö prior to his visit to Croatia and they did it in a way that damaged Croatian reputation.
„They tried to convince the Finland president not to come to Croatia because of expanding Ustasha atmosphere. Among other things they embroiled him into discussion about Croatian emblem. Because of its first white square it is said to be Ustasha’s emblem. They reproached it to the Croatian President. I have studied that topic. People saying that Croatian emblem starting with white square is Ustasha’s emblem are saying that Croatian people is genocidal.“
That shameless attack against two journalists is additionally severe as Ivan Zvonimir Čičak is non-parliamentary member of Parliament Board for Information and Media and that he has been on several occasions special representative of Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, the Croatian President.
We want to point out once more the fact that public figures, including those in power or close to it, dare to insult journalists who do their job professionally. Not rarely they use inflammatory lies like ones Čičak said in „Otvoreno“ show the last evening.
Leading Croatian politicians do not react accordingly; on the contrary, those who lie and instigate against journalists they recompense by making them their delegates and appointing them at important positions.
CJA does not want to keep those actions from the public and will do the same in the future.