ZAGREB, Oct 9 (Hina) - A parliamentary discussion on the motion of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) for a non-confidence vote in Premier Ivica Racan, due to the relations with Slovenia and the initialled border agreement, caused
divisions, heated debates, and accusations among MPs.
ZAGREB, Oct 9 (Hina) - A parliamentary discussion on the motion of
the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) for a non-confidence vote in
Premier Ivica Racan, due to the relations with Slovenia and the
initialled border agreement, caused divisions, heated debates, and
accusations among MPs. #L#
Jozo Rados of the Libra party refuted the HDZ's motion, accusing
this party of having failed to open, let alone solve open issues not
only with Slovenia but with others in the past years (while the HDZ
was in power).
Vladimir Seks of the HDZ bench accused Premier Racan of trading with
the Croatian territory instead of protecting the Constitution and
the parliament's decisions, and insisted that there was no excuse
for the violations of the Constitution.
The initialled border agreement is the territorial concession
which Croatia made to Slovenia and it causes great damage to Croatia
in case of possible international arbitration for this issue, said
Mate Granic of the Democratic Centre (DC) bench. He believes that
the border agreement lead to the "dramatic deterioration of the
relations with Slovenia".
Josko Kontic of Social Liberals (HSLS bench) asserted that Racan
had violated the principle of the parliamentary democracy when he
failed to respect the Sabor's decision on the middle line as the
demarcation line in Piran Bay.
Anto Djapic of the bench of the Croatian Party of Rights and the
Christian Democratic Union (HSP/HKDU) said the HSP always severely
criticised the border agreement, but it branded the HDZ's motion as
counter-productive and not real.
Ivica Pasalic said the Croatian Block bench could not support the
HDZ's motion because of to the current political moment in which
Croatia was now owing to the "Bobetko case". As soon as it is
settled, the HB will support any proposal for the replacement of
"the incompetent, incapable and unqualified Racan cabinet",
Pasalic said.
Damir Kajin of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) branded the
HDZ's motion as a part of the political folklore, which was
legitimate but was not based on any real fact. The challenged
initialled agreement produces no legal effects, Kajin added.
Mato Arlovic of the Social Democrats (SDP) said all accusation
which the opposition levelled at Racan were unfounded, and added
that it was unfair to suggest that the initialled deal, as a
preliminary act, weakened Croatia's position.
Luka Trconic of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) said the HDZ's
motion was lacking in arguments, and added that he maintained that
Premier Racan had not violated the Constitution during his
negotiations with Ljubljana.
The bench of the Croatian People's Party with two regional parties
(HNS/PGS/SBSH) does not see that Racan did anything contrary to the
Constitution, as the initialled agreement was neither signed nor
ratified by the parliament, the HNS leader Vesna Pusic said.
The bench of the Liberal Party (LS) will be against the motion, as
this party believes that the parliament should help strengthen the
government's position in its international efforts as to solve the
relations with Slovenia to the mutual benefit.
The parliament continued discussing the HDZ's motion, and had to
vote on it this evening because of the deadlines defined by the
Constitution.
(hina) ms sb