ZAGREB, Croatia, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The Croatian government has removed a statue and a plaque honoring two officials in the World War II puppet government.
The BBC reports that the cabinet held an emergency meeting Thursday. Croatia plans to apply for European Union membership next year.
After Yugoslavia was invaded by the Germans in 1941, the Nazis set up a Greater Croatia that included most of Bosnia and part of Serbia. Its fascist leader, Ante Pavelic, was dedicated to making the country Catholic and Croat.
The plaque was dedicated to Mile Budak, a writer and minister in the wartime government who introduced racial legislation aimed at Serbians, Jews and Gypsies. The statue was of Jure Francetic, a military officer who founded the Black Legion.
Both were erected recently.
"The monuments are contrary to fundamental elements of the Croatian constitution and damage the reputation and interests of Croatia," Prime Minister Ivo Sanader told the BBC.
