ZAGREB, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Croatian Minister of Defense Damir Krsticevic has withdrawn his offer to resign on Monday, six days after he announced he's leaving this position due to allegedly inefficient response to forest fires near the country's Adriatic coast.
"After numerous talks with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, I decided to continue my duties of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. Members of the Army, along with many others, have done a tremendous effort to end catastrophic fires," Krsticevic announced.
Krsticevic resigned only hours after Croatian President and Commander in Chief of the Army, Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, questioned the army for not intervening sooner and helping firefighters in the battle against the fire that once threatened the second-largest city Split.
The wildfire started on the night of July 16 and was under control in about two days. It ravaged the area near Croatia's Adriatic coast in Dalmatia region with the help of strong wind, burning down forests and houses in extremely dry weather without causing any fatalities.
