ZAGREB, Oct 9 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Wednesday evening gained a vote of confidence from the majority of MPs in the Sabor for the third time during his mandate.
ZAGREB, Oct 9 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on
Wednesday evening gained a vote of confidence from the majority of
MPs in the Sabor for the third time during his mandate. #L#
The Sabor rejected a proposal by the Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ) bench that a vote of no confidence be taken in the premier
because of his initialling a border agreement with Slovenia.
A total of 76 MPs rejected HDZ's proposal and only Ljerka Mintas
Hodak (NZ) voted for the proposal.
The Sabor took its vote of confidence in Racan without the presence
of HDZ MPs who walked out of the parliament hall in protest because
the discussion was not broadcast live on TV.
"I postponed an important international obligation this evening at
the request of MPs who are not here but everyone is responsible for
their own behaviour," the premier said commenting on HDZ's walk
out.
Racan stepped out and spoke several times this evening rejecting
HDZ's charges that by initialling a border agreement with Slovenia
he had violated the Croatian Constitution and Sabor decisions.
He rejected claims by that party that the initialled border
agreement inspired conflicts in Piran Bay.
He stated that back in July 2001 the government decided, despite the
fact that it didn't have to, that before signing any draft border
agreement, it would ask the Sabor for its opinion. "The government
said, let us hear the opinion of the Sabor and only on the basis of
that we will decide on any agreement or possible signing," he
pointed out several times during the evening.
He expressed belief that democratic forces and the government in
Croatia would do everything to continue along the line of co-
operation and friendship with Slovenia. "I hope for the sake of
national interest, that we succeed in this," Racan said.
The motion of taking a vote of no confidence in Racan by the HDZ was
forwarded into the parliamentary procedure on September 9.
Racan was given a vote of confidence by the Sabor for the third time.
The first was in July last year relating to relations with the
Hague-based tribunal and then this year when he convened his new
government.
The Sabor will continue its 25 sitting on Thursday.
(hina) sp it