The opposition coalition led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presented its election platform, known as Plan 21, in Bjelovar on Wednesday, focusing on its policy towards war veterans.

The plan was presented in the town's school gym by SDP president Zoran Milanovic and SDP members of Parliament Ante Kotromanovic and Mirando Mrsic.

"Croatia has been divided on the issue of veterans for all these years and we want it to stop. We guarantee the veterans a fair and transparent treatment," Milanovic said.

Milanovic said that the opposition coalition considered the divisions over the veterans a matter of the past. "We are dealing with a large population of about 500,000 people. This is an important topic for us and we will gladly deal with it if they put their trust in us," he added.

Mrsic spoke of a new health care scheme for veterans which the opposition coalition intends to implement if it comes to power. He said that, in cooperation with the ministries of veterans' affairs, health and defence, they planned to establish a health care centre that would provide complete health care for war veterans, including rehabilitation, prevention, and the study and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mrsic said that the present rehabilitation system for veterans was inappropriate, adding that it was necessary to set up regional rehabilitation centres to ensure speedier rehabilitation.

Kotromanovic said that the coalition aimed to stop the political manipulation with the veterans and their numbers. "The Veterans' Register needs to be made public. It must be clear and transparent, and must show who was where and when," he said.

Responding to questions from the audience, Milanovic said that the Veterans' Register would not be reviewed because it might only cause further trauma.

One veteran asked why the Register would not be reviewed because a review would solve the problem of high pensions for people who had not at all been on the front line or had spent only a few days there. Kotromanovic responded that those who had been awarded veteran's status without spending a day on the front line were not entitled to a veteran's pension.
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