ZAGREB, March 20 (Hina)- The Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) on Thursday asked Sabor President to convene an extraordinary session of the parliament to discuss Croatia's international position with regard to the military campaign
against Iraq.
ZAGREB, March 20 (Hina)- The Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) on
Thursday asked Sabor President to convene an extraordinary session
of the parliament to discuss Croatia's international position with
regard to the military campaign against Iraq. #L#
Even though Croatia cannot influence the objectives nor the
developments or final result of the war against Iraq, it will
nevertheless feel the repercussions of the war on its economy and in
particular, its tourism, the HSP noted in an open letter to
Croatia's parliament speaker Zlatko Tomcic and Premier Ivica
Racan.
This right opposition party demands that the government prepares a
report for the urgent parliamentary session about Croatia's
national security as well as about an estimate of the effects of the
war in Iraq on Croatia's tourist season, about its plan to secure
regular fuel supplies and plans to protect Croatia's economic
interests in the Near East and also about the possibilities of
Zagreb participating in direct humanitarian aid for victims of the
attack on Iraq.
Seeing that war could result in the transformation of NATO into an
alliance of semi-sovereign countries under the auspices of the US
and that it could deepen already existing divisions within the
European Union, which could slow down the procedure for Zagreb's
application for EU membership, it is necessary to inspect Croatia's
relations with regard to being included in the alliance as well as
to mull over possible changes to strategies in Croatia's national
security, the HSP believes.
The U.S. has not asked Croatia to be involved in the campaign
against Iraq as a partner "in the anti-terrorist coalition" but
rather to be obedient to the American orders, the HSP notes in its
letter and adds that new pressure from Washington could be expected
such as approval to use Croatian military bases and for Croatian
soldiers to be deployed in the occupation of post-war Iraq.
Therefore the HSP decisively calls on the Government to turn down
any possible demands, reads the open letter signed by the party's
president, Ante Djapic.
(hina) sp ms sb