RACAN REJECTS CHARGES THAT HE VIOLATED CONSTITUTION

ZAGREB, Oct 9 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan in the Sabor on Wednesday night rejected charges by some Opposition MPs that by initialling a border agreement with Slovenia, he had violated the Croatian Constitution and parliament decisions. #L# "If we were to accept that logic we would see on how many occasions the constitution was violated over the past ten years," Racan said in response to the charges, mostly from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). HDZ MPs initiated a debate on taking giving a vote of no confidence in Racan because, in their opinion, by initialling the border agreement with Slovenia he was prepared to give away state territory and violated the Constitution. Racan amongst said that former foreign minister Mate Granic had admitted that 99 percent of the land border has been determined without previously being discussed in parliament. Racan rejected HDZ's claims that the initialled border agreement inspired the conflicts in Piran Bay. The Prime Minister stated that in July 2001 the government decided, even though it did not have to, that before signing any draft agreement, it would ask the parliament to voice its opinion. HDZ's evaluations and the proposal was backed by the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and the Democratic Centre (DC), the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP)/Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU) bench, while the benches of the ruling coalition and the Croatian Bloc (HB) rejected the proposal. Shortly after 8PM, the HDZ requested a break because they were dissatisfied with the interruption to the live television broadcast of the parliament session. Ivo Sanader said that his bench received numerous telegrams by citizens who wished to watch the session live. Is there any point in discussing this any further if the public cannot be in touch, Sanader questioned and requested a break. (hina) sp it sb