ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament decided late Friday night to proclaim a protected fishing and ecological zone in the Adriatic Sea.
ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament decided late Friday
night to proclaim a protected fishing and ecological zone in the
Adriatic Sea. #L#
The parliament adopted a slightly changed proposal of the
government that this model should be used to expand Croatia's
jurisdiction in the Adriatic.
The government-sponsored motion was slightly altered by amendments
tabled by the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS).
This party eventually abandoned its earlier demand that an
exclusive economic zone be proclaimed, and agreed that in the text
of the government's decision to expand the jurisdiction the word
"contents" should replace the word "functions" of the economic
zone.
Seventy (70) MPs from ruling coalition parties voted in favour of
the decision, while 44 opposition MPs were against it.
The enforcement of the legal regime of the protected ecological and
fishing zone will start 12 months after its proclamation.
During the heated debate, opposition leaders accused the ruling
parties' chiefs of making deals and trading. The harshest criticism
was levelled against the Social Democratic Party (SDP) of Ivica
Racan and the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) of Zlatko Tomcic.
Croatian Democratic Party (HDZ) leader Ivo Sanader said the
government proposed something with no footing in international and
domestic law.
Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) head Drazen Budisa labelled
today's parliamentary debate and its outcome as a folk theatre. He
revealed that his party, the HDZ, and the Democratic Centre (DC) had
been willing to vote for the government-drafted motion in its
original form but they abandoned that intention after the changes
made by the HSS amendments.
DC leader Mate Granic, who was a former foreign minister, asserted
that he had defended all sorts of things (alluding to his diplomatic
career) but believes that he would not be able to defend the outcome
of this decision.
HSS MP Luka Trconic responded to criticism by accusing opposition
parties of hypocrisy.
The parliament proclaimed contents of the exclusive economic zone
which refer to the sovereign right to research and use, preserve and
manage the living and natural resources of waters outside the
external border of the territorial waters, and to jurisdiction in
the scientific research of the sea and the protection and
preservation of the maritime environment.
The government accepted the HSS-sponsored amendments that the
parliament reserved the right to proclaim other contents from the
Chapter IV of the maritime code and in compliance with the UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Sabor will resume its 37th session on Tuesday.
(hina) ms