PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS INDICTMENT AGAINST BOBETKO ON FRIDAY

ZAGREB, Sept 24 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament will resume its 25th sitting on Friday and immediately upon convening it will discuss an indictment by the Hague-based tribunal against General Janko Bobetko, parliament President Zlatko Tomcic announced following tonight's meeting between the parliament presidency and all party benches with Prime Minister Ivica Racan and Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic. #L# The meeting in the parliament was closed to the public and lasted two and a half hours. Tomcic explained to journalists that the sitting of the parliament was postponed at the request of the government and requirements expressed by the Sabor. The next two days will be used to conduct numerous and intensive talks will all political factors and legal and constitutional experts and diplomatic representatives, he said. "We need to lobby our position after reaching the highest level of agreement and we all agree that this form of indictment is unacceptable to Croatia," Tomcic said and added that this evening's meeting once again showed that when critical moments arise a high level of unity can be obtained in resolving important issues. He announced that he would personally arrange for talks with parliamentary representatives of some countries. Tomcic told journalists that it was agreed to set up a combined commission to co-ordinate the attitude of all party benches, to monitor discussions and to prepare a joint conclusion that the government would use as a basis to pass a final decision. This relates to an agreement reached last week that not one decision would be made by the government without the agreement in parliament, Tomcic pointed out. He noted that only the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) did not agree with this evening's conclusion. The HDZ asked that the matter be raised in the parliament as early as Wednesday as well as a proposal to amend the Constitutional Law on Co-operation with The Hague- based tribunal and to discuss a proposal put forward by the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) to proclaim a moratorium on extradition of Croatian citizens until the Constitutional Court estimates the constitutionality of the Constitutional Law. The president of the HDZ bench, Vladimir Seks, told journalists that the HDZ believes that this topic should be discussed as early as Wednesday. Tomcic confirmed that he had visited General Bobetko during the day. (hina) sp it sb