COUNCILLORS ABANDON COUNTY ASSEMBLY MEETING IN SIBENIK

SIBENIK, Oct 21 (Hina) - Opposition party councillors of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) and Serb Democratic Independent Party (SDSS) in the Sibenik-Knin County Assembly walked out of an assembly meeting on Monday in response to a proposal that Generals Ante Gotovina, Rahim Ademi and Mirko Norac be proclaimed honorary citizens of that county. #L# As a result of the lack of quorum when only councillors from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and Croatian Bloc (HB) remained, the meeting was cancelled. A continuation of the session was scheduled for October 25. Councillors were presented with the proposal for awards and recognition in that county during the meeting. Amongst else, the decision on awards noted that Generals Gotovina, Ademi and Norac should be proclaimed honorary citizens of that county for their military skills and contribution during the Homeland War. SDP and HSS councillors were surprised by the proposal and even though they had their own representative to the award committee, they had no idea of the proposal. It is unheard of that councillors were not informed of the proposal until the actual vote was to take place. The three gentlemen in question have been indicted for war crimes - two of them by the Hague-based UN Tribunal and one is being tried before the Croatian court, said an SDP councillor, Ivan Ninic. General Ademi responded to the indictment by standing before the tribunal and we hope that he will prove he is innocent however until then he is a defendant. A decision like the one proposed just two to three days prior to the ICTY's chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte's arrival in Croatia and now when Croatia is being faced with possible sanctions, is unheard of. The entire episode is just an attempt to bring down the current government, Sabor MP and County councillor Ninic said, branding such a proposal as shameful. In keeping with a decision adopted by the Assembly on the proposed candidates, there is no further discussion on the matter but just a yea or neigh. HSS bench leader Kruno Mazalin claimed that he had not seen the proposal previously. Nevertheless Damir Pilipac (HDZ) at the same time the president of the award commission said the commission consisted of several party representatives and that they were all advised of the proposal and a decision was made with consensus. "If you are not satisfied with the proposal, next year you may propose that Carla del Ponte be nominated," Pilipac told the assembly. (hina) sp ms sb