ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - The government's proposal that Croatia should proclaim a fishing and ecological zone, which Premier Ivica Racan presented on Friday to members of parliament, was supported by the Social Democratic Party (SDP),
Libra, the Croatian People's Party (HNS), and the Liberal Party (LS), while the fifth ruling party -- the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) -- joined the opposition in supporting the proposal of the HSP (Croatian Party of Rights) to declare an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Adriatic.
ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - The government's proposal that Croatia
should proclaim a fishing and ecological zone, which Premier Ivica
Racan presented on Friday to members of parliament, was supported
by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Libra, the Croatian People's
Party (HNS), and the Liberal Party (LS), while the fifth ruling
party -- the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) -- joined the opposition
in supporting the proposal of the HSP (Croatian Party of Rights) to
declare an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Adriatic. #L#
"Croatia must exercise the right which it is given under the UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea without any complex," Luka Trconic
said on behalf of the HSS.
HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) president Ivo Sanader also
believes that Croatia, as many other countries, has a sovereign
right to declare the economic zone.
Sanader, aware that there will be negative reactions, stated that
there were times when a risk must be taken.
On behalf of the SDP, Mato Arlovic said the proclamation of the EEZ
would push Croatia into an unfavourable international position,
and posed the question "if some who are proposing the EEZ are doing
so in order that Croatia remain where it is now, outside the
European Union".
Deputies of the opposition and the HSS said the proclamation of the
ecological and fishing zone would not guarantee high-quality
protection of the sea for Croatia, as this decision was based on
common law and not on international conventions as was the case with
the EEZ.
They said that in the case of the fishing zone there was a
possibility that neighbouring countries might not respect the
Croatian protected zone, which could be tolerated as it would not
present a violation of international conventions.
Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) president Drazen Budisa urged
MPs to reach consensus on national interests. "If we reach
consensus on vital interests, then we can realise those interests.
But if there is no unity, our foreign policy will be the policy of
European poodles who tour European capitals so as to be patted on
their backs," said Budisa, announcing that this was his last speech
in the Sabor.
On behalf of the HSP, Miroslav Rozic described the dilemma between
"the economic zone and the EU" as false and invented for the purpose
of intimidating the public and blackmailing MPs.
On behalf of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), Damir Kajin
said that no matter what the parliament voted for, Croatia was in a
difficult situation to which it was brought by ruling parties'
moves.
"The ruling coalition parties have launched pre-election campaigns
against one another over the issue of the economic zone and other
important topics from the sphere of foreign affairs," Kajin said,
announcing that the IDS would vote in accordance with the proverb
"to follow the crowd", namely it would support the EEZ if a majority
of MPs agreed on it.
(hina) ms sb