OFFICIAL: NOTHING IMPORTANT IN GOVT'S MOTION HAS BEEN CHANGED

ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - Nothing was changed with the adoption of the proposal made by the HSS that the word 'contents' should be put instead of the word' functions' of the economic zone in the decision on proclaiming the fishing and ecological zone in the Adriatic, Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic told Hina on Friday night. The essence of the initial motion drafted by the government remained the same and the accepted amendments of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) made slight technical improvements, the Croatian official said upon the parliament's decision to proclaim the fishing and ecological zone in the Adriatic sea. Simonovic believes that compromise has been made which can serve as a good basis for the protection of the country's both national interests -- the bids to enter the European Union and the protection of the sea. The decision is based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and not on the common law, as some members of parliament asserted, Simonovic added. He went to say that the reactions from the European Commission to this decision of Sabor would probably be negative, but they would be to a considerable extent more lenient than those which might have been provoked by the proclamation of an exclusive economic zone. (hina) ms