ZAGREB UNIVERSITY TO AWARD HONORARY DOCTORATE TO R. BADINTER

ZAGREB, Jan 16 (Hina) - The Zagreb University's Senate on Tuesday initiated the procedure of awarding an honorary doctorate to a former chairman of the European Community's Arbitration Committee, Robert Badinter, the University Chancellor's Office stated. #L# According to the Senate's proposal, "his works and activities have significantly contributed to the struggle for legal culture, democracy and the protection of human rights, and Croatia is particularly indebted to him for his support in its struggle for independence and defence from Great-Serbian claims and international recognition". According to sources at the Chancellor's Office, the suggestion to award Badinter an honorary doctorate came from a group of constitutional law professors teaching at Zagreb's Law and Political Science Faculties. A senator in the French Senate and honorary professor, Robert Badinter, is particularly important for Croatia as a chairman of the European Community's Arbitration Committee, established at the Conference on Yugoslavia. In the midst of attacks on Croatia, Badinter stated, on September 26, 1991, that the Yugoslav crisis could be resolved only in a legal way. On November 1, 1991 the committee stated that Yugoslavia was in a process of disintegration, thus refuting claims that Croatia and Slovenia were trying to secede. On November 11, 1991 the committee concluded that as there was no other agreement between the new states - former Yugoslav republics - their borders should automatically become international borders protected by international law. (hina) rml sb