ZAGREB, June 27 (Hina) - The motion for the ratification of a Croatian-Slovenian agreement on the Krsko nuclear power plant will be added to the agenda of the ongoing session of the Croatian parliament, but the Croatian Social
Liberals (HSLS), a member of the ruling coalition, stick by the stand that they will vote against its ratification, HSLS leader and Croatian First Vice Premier, Drazen Budisa, said on Wednesday night.
ZAGREB, June 27 (Hina) - The motion for the ratification of a
Croatian-Slovenian agreement on the Krsko nuclear power plant will
be added to the agenda of the ongoing session of the Croatian
parliament, but the Croatian Social Liberals (HSLS), a member of
the ruling coalition, stick by the stand that they will vote against
its ratification, HSLS leader and Croatian First Vice Premier,
Drazen Budisa, said on Wednesday night. #L#
According to available information, the motion should be put on the
agenda on Thursday, and the Sabor is expected to discuss the draft
law on the ratification and vote on it on Friday.
"The suggestion is that the agreement should be ratified, and we
shall try ensure the necessary number of MPs' votes (76)," Premier
Ivica Racan told reporters who asked him how the necessary number of
votes would be collected if the HSLS announced that its deputies
would be against the ratification.
After a seven-hour-long meeting of the ruling coalition parties'
leaders and parliamentarians on Wednesday night, Racan said most of
those who had been at the meeting decided to be in favour of the
ratification. But they agreed that the law on the ratification
should include an additional conclusion.
Such conclusion will provide for the possibility of the annulment
of the ratification by the Sabor if the Slovenian parliament fails
to ratify the document by 31 December 2002.
Racan, however, did not want to speak about possible consequences
if the Croatian parliament fail to ratify the deal. "Let me talk
about it after the voting in the Sabor," he responded to reporters.
Asked whether he would offer his resignation if the Croatian
parliament did not ratify the document, Racan replied: "Who, I or
those who boycott the ratification?"
He explained that during the session the coalition had discussed
the agreement and the pros and cons of its ratification, and all the
members of the coalition, except one, concluded that the document
should be ratified.
Although earlier in the day the five-party coalition seemed to have
managed to harmonise the view on the matter, the HSLS bench's stand
on voting against the ratification brought new elements in the
case.
It is now up to members of the parliament to decide, and the
coalition's task is now to ensure the sufficient number of votes
(76) for it.
According to some calculations, the coalition can obtain the 'firm'
73 votes without HSLS deputies.
Racan announced that the coalition partners would subsequently
assess whether an issue was so important to bring into question the
existence of the coalition.
"We shall try to grade the questions from the very important,
strategically important to less important," PM added.
Asked whether the Krsko plant was strategically important, he
answered that "it will be subsequently decided at a meeting of the
coalition."
(hina) ms