The Minister of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy states that all measures are being taken to prevent any potential harmful impact on the health of people in Gospić and Lika.
Minister of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy Alen Ružić stated on Tuesday that there is no justification for anyone to profit from someone else's misfortune. He made this comment regarding the case of illegal waste disposal in Lika and the request by President Zoran Milanović for an urgent extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament.
The minister emphasized that all necessary activities are being carried out to prevent a real threat of negative impact on the health of the residents of Gospić and Lika. "Everything will be done in the shortest possible time to identify those truly responsible, and to remove and remediate the threat in a professional and expert manner. There is no reason for anyone to profit from someone else's tragedy in this way. Unfortunately, in the public sphere, we are witnessing that this is happening," said Ružić.
Ružić stressed that he fully understands the unrest among the citizens of Gospić and the entire Lika region, but at the same time he assured the public that everything is being done to ensure the highest possible level of safety and that all natural resources are continuously being checked. "Water is being sampled, as well as soil and plant material, and everything is being done to prevent any real possibility of harmful effects on health. We are working within the bounds of our profession to ensure no harmful impact occurs," he explained.
He added that efforts are being made to ensure that relevant information reaches citizens at regular intervals. He called on the people of Lika and Gospić to follow this information and to have confidence in the system.
Referring to yesterday's departure of opposition representatives and the "Gospić is Our Home" initiative from the extraordinary session of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Nature Protection, Ružić claimed that those present had the opportunity to receive all necessary information. "Some citizens left the session within the first hour, while others stayed and received information," he said.
"No one was denied the opportunity to speak; it was just a matter of order," the minister added. He believes that in this case, it was an attempt to attract media attention and use the tragedy for purposes not aimed at solving the problem.
Ružić also mentioned that HDZ's Ante Sanader visited the fire site in Omiš on Friday and was in Gospić on Saturday, where, as he stated, he did not encounter those "allegedly concerned actors."
