Watzy
08-19-2007, 06:44 PM
Serbia starving Lipizzaner horses, claims Croatia
By Vesna Peric Zimonjic in Belgrade
Published: 03 August 2007
A herd of famous Lipizzaner horses rescued during the war in the former Yugoslavia in 1991 has found itself at the centre of a new Serbo-Croatian dispute after animal rights groups claimed they were victims of starvation and neglect.
More than 80 grey horses were moved from Lipik in Croatiato Novi Sad in northern Serbia to protect them from the war.
But there has wrangling between the two countries over who owns the horses and who pays for their care.
That has erupted into open sniping this week when animal protection groups in both countries said most of the Lipizzaners were sick or close to dying. The horses were unfed, neglected, and some had open wounds, one report said.
The powerful animals, who are born black and later obtain their famous grey colour, are well known for their elegant strutting and dancing. They were the pride of the Austro-Hungarian empire and were made famous by Austria's Spanish Riding School.
Yesterda,y the Serbian Agriculture Minister Slobodan Milosavljevic visited the farm, which lies about 45 miles north of Belgrade, to investigate for himself.
"I am no expert to judge their condition but they seem in decent state," he told reporters. Vets accompanying the minister examined the animals and said all were healthy. But they did leave around 20 tonnes of food, medicines, vitamins and other supplies at the farm for the horses.
And there were doubts about what the delegation actually saw. Neighbours told reporters that the visit was a farce. "For years, we looked at horses whose skeletons protrude through their skin," said one neighbour, who did not want to give their name. "They roam around, outside the farm, and eat anything they find - dry grass, maybe even garbage."
A spokesman for Croatia's agriculture ministry said that Serbia was due to return the horses to Croatia, "like it returned everything that was taken from Croatia during the war". But Serbia insists that the horses cannot leave until Croatia settles its accounts. The owner of the farm wants €300,000 (£200,000) in compensation for the cost of looking after the horses.
Mr Milosavljevic said he would soon meet his Croatian counterpart to try to resolve the stand-off. "We have to determine how they came here, how they were kept, what their present condition is and what should be done to solve the problem," he said.
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2831116.ece
By Vesna Peric Zimonjic in Belgrade
Published: 03 August 2007
A herd of famous Lipizzaner horses rescued during the war in the former Yugoslavia in 1991 has found itself at the centre of a new Serbo-Croatian dispute after animal rights groups claimed they were victims of starvation and neglect.
More than 80 grey horses were moved from Lipik in Croatiato Novi Sad in northern Serbia to protect them from the war.
But there has wrangling between the two countries over who owns the horses and who pays for their care.
That has erupted into open sniping this week when animal protection groups in both countries said most of the Lipizzaners were sick or close to dying. The horses were unfed, neglected, and some had open wounds, one report said.
The powerful animals, who are born black and later obtain their famous grey colour, are well known for their elegant strutting and dancing. They were the pride of the Austro-Hungarian empire and were made famous by Austria's Spanish Riding School.
Yesterda,y the Serbian Agriculture Minister Slobodan Milosavljevic visited the farm, which lies about 45 miles north of Belgrade, to investigate for himself.
"I am no expert to judge their condition but they seem in decent state," he told reporters. Vets accompanying the minister examined the animals and said all were healthy. But they did leave around 20 tonnes of food, medicines, vitamins and other supplies at the farm for the horses.
And there were doubts about what the delegation actually saw. Neighbours told reporters that the visit was a farce. "For years, we looked at horses whose skeletons protrude through their skin," said one neighbour, who did not want to give their name. "They roam around, outside the farm, and eat anything they find - dry grass, maybe even garbage."
A spokesman for Croatia's agriculture ministry said that Serbia was due to return the horses to Croatia, "like it returned everything that was taken from Croatia during the war". But Serbia insists that the horses cannot leave until Croatia settles its accounts. The owner of the farm wants €300,000 (£200,000) in compensation for the cost of looking after the horses.
Mr Milosavljevic said he would soon meet his Croatian counterpart to try to resolve the stand-off. "We have to determine how they came here, how they were kept, what their present condition is and what should be done to solve the problem," he said.
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2831116.ece