OPPOSITION PARTY URGES CHANGING CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

ZAGREB, Sept 23 (Hina) - The Opposition maintains that the constitutional law on cooperation with the Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal should be changed, Democratic Centre president Mate Granic said on Monday, ahead of tomorrow's meeting among the prime minister, parliament's presidency and bench presidents. #L# The first step following the government's announcement that it will enter a legal dispute with the UN tribunal over the indictment of Gen. Janko Bobetko is to change the constitutional law and simultaneously launch a strong diplomatic campaign, said Granic. Said law should be changed so as to authorise the Supreme Court to give the final assessment as to whether any indictment from The Hague is in compliance with the Constitution and the law on cooperation with the UN tribunal, Granic said. He added the government should simultaneously lobby the UN Security Council, the United States, the European Union, the Russian Federation, and China. Besides legal action, the government should wage a political battle, to which it is entitled as a sovereign state, said Granic. However, following today's delivery of the indictment with an arrest warrant for Bobetko, it is expected that tomorrow Racan will outline the new circumstances surrounding the reception of the indictment. Last week the PM pledged to MPs that the government would not act on the indictment without previously debating the matter with parliament. (hina) ha sb