ZAGREB, April 22 (Hina) - Croatian parliamentary parties - the HSS, HDZ, IDS, DC and the HSP, support a proposal on establishing a commission of inquiry to investigate claims by resigned Chief State Prosecutor Radovan Ortynski on
collusion between politics, the judiciary, and the media and organised crime, while the SDP considers the proposal premature.
ZAGREB, April 22 (Hina) - Croatian parliamentary parties - the HSS,
HDZ, IDS, DC and the HSP, support a proposal on establishing a
commission of inquiry to investigate claims by resigned Chief State
Prosecutor Radovan Ortynski on collusion between politics, the
judiciary, and the media and organised crime, while the SDP
considers the proposal premature. #L#
SDP whip Mato Arlovic explained that his party did not oppose the
establishment of such a commission, but believed that this should
be done after the necessary conditions were met. To establish such a
commission now would be premature, Arlovic said at an ad hoc news
conference after today's session of the Parliament Presidency,
after which claims were made that the SDP was the only party which
opposed the forming of the commission.
By adopting a decision to establish the commission, the parliament
would annul its conclusions binding the government to inform it, by
May 18, about the situation with organised crime and measures for
its prevention, as well as its conclusion binding the State
Prosecution to inform it about the same matter within three months,
Arlovic said.
"We are not against the establishment of the commission, but not
until an answer is provided to Ortynski's claims that some
politicians were connected with organised crime and that he was
prevented by politicians to prosecute it. That answer can be
obtained only on the basis of facts, which competent state bodies -
the government, ministries and the State Prosecution are obliged to
submit to the parliament, even without the establishment of the
commission of inquiry," Arlovic said. "Only if we are not given the
answers that we want and if the competent bodies fail to act in line
with parliamentary conclusions, only then will it be possible to
set up such a commission," he added.
It also is not possible to establish a commission to investigate
Ortynski's claims and at the same time relieve him of duty as Chief
State Prosecutor. Establishing such a commission would mean that
parliament considers some of his statements credible, Arlovic
concluded.
DC vice-president Vesna Skare Ozbolt believes that Ortynski cannot
be relieved of duty until the commission of inquiry establishes the
truth about his accusations about the collusion between politics
and organised crime.
Ortynski must provide evidence for his claims. If his claims prove
false, his resignation should not be accepted, but the parliament
should relieve him of duty without the possibility of his remaining
in the State Prosecution as Deputy State Prosecutor, Skare-Ozbolt
told reporters.
The Croatian Parliament Presidency postponed until tomorrow, after
all party benches voice their stand on the matter, a vote on the
establishment of the commission of inquiry.
(hina) rml sb