CITY ASSEMBLY REFUSES TO DECLARE BOBETKO ZAGREB'S HONORARY CITIZEN

ZAGREB, Sept 25 (Hina) - The Zagreb City Assembly on Wednesday dismissed by a majority vote a proposal by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) that retired General Janko Bobetko be declared an honorary citizen of Zagreb in urgent procedure. #L# Assembly Chairwoman Morana Palikovic Gruden said the proposal would be sent into regular assembly procedure. During a discussion on the agenda, also dismissed was a proposal of the Croatian True Revival (HIP) party that the Assembly request the parliament to amend the constitutional law on cooperation with the U.N. war crimes tribunal, which is why HIP councillors left the session before the agenda was formulated. "There is no point in the City Assembly getting involved in this issue, because all political parties have already reached a consensus to discuss the issue at a parliament sitting on Friday," councillor Zdravko Tomac of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said at a news conference after the session. He also said that hastiness in declaring General Bobetko an honorary citizen would mean that the City Assembly was reacting to the current political situation and degrade the proposal. (hina) it sb