MINISTRY: THERE IS NO REASON FOR DISSOLVING OSIJEK COUNTY ASSEMBLY

OSIJEK, April 16 (Hina) - Parties of the ruling coalition in the Osijek-Baranja County Assembly (Social Democratic Party - SDP, Liberal Party - LS, and Croatian Peasant Party - HSS) have stated that the Justice Ministry has decided that there is no reason to dissolve the county assembly even though 26 councillors - from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) - have resigned to their posts. #L# HDZ, HSLS and HSP councillors in the Osijek County Assembly resigned to their posts last week. After an HSS councillor went over to the HDZ, the number of councillors who resigned rose to 26, which made a majority of seats. The HSS then stated that it would appoint a deputy to its councillor who joined HDZ ranks, thus securing the necessary quorum of 26 councillors. Libra party member Vilim Herman said he would re- activate the mandate he won while a member of the HSLS, while the SDP stated it would appoint another councillor from its roster under regulations on minority representation in bodies of local administration, so the coalition could have the majority of 28 councillors. County Assembly president Ramir Ristic quoted the ministry as saying that the resignation of more than half the councillors did not mean a permanent lack of quorum as long as their deputies could be appointed and competent bodies were willing to appoint them. The head of the SDP in Osijek-Baranja County, Zeljko Malevic, said the assembly "is legal, legitimate and has a quorum" and called on opposition parties to appoint deputies to their councillors who resigned. Commenting on HDZ leader Ivo Sanader's statement that the situation in Osijek County was an act of "violence and violation of laws", Malevic said the ruling coalition insisted on respect for laws in the adoption of which "Sanader participated as well". "Disregarding the law, violating legal provisions and attempting to persecute... all who think differently than the local HDZ is the violation of Croatia's constitutional order," Malevic said, commenting on lawsuits filed by the HDZ's county branch against him, the county prefect, the president of the county assembly and the county secretary for their alleged spreading of false information about attempts at illegal re-organisation of local authorities. The head of the HDZ's county branch, Branimir Glavas, said the ministry's decision was "shameful and tendentious" and came from "the red regime justice secretariat". The HDZ, HSLS and HSP today stated they would challenge the ministry's decision and insist that the county assembly be dissolved and new elections called. The parties said they would sue Deputy Justice Minister Miljenko Kovac, who signed the contentious decision, and launch proceedings about the matter before the parliamentary committee on legislation. The Osijek County Assembly has called a session for Thursday. (hina) rml