OSIJEK COUNTY PREFECT RESPONDS TO HDZ ACCUSATIONS

OSIJEK, Dec 23 (Hina) - Osijek-Baranja County Prefect Ladislav Bognar (Social Democratic Party - SDP), who did not gain the confidence of the majority of councillors at a recent county assembly, on Monday said that he would continue holding office as long as the coalition of the SDP, Liberal Party (LS), Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) and Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) existed and as long as it did not conclude that he should be removed from office. #L# Since that the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) initiated the vote of confidence, the party on Sunday demanded Bognar's resignation. At a press conference today, Bognar told reporters that he would not resign when Branimir Glavas asks for it. Asked to comment on Glavas' statement yesterday that if Bognar did not resign the HDZ would use parliamentary methods to prevent any future sessions of the Assembly, Bognar said that any form of violence that Glavas intended to use must be prevented and that matters should be dealt with in keeping with the law. He estimated that the vote at the assembly session, where despite a previous arrangement, some coalition councillors voted in favour of the HDZ proposal, threw a serious shadow on the assembly's ability to function and that he did not wish to gamble with his reputation and dignity with the coalition which would turn out to be unstable and frivolous. "If I am given a guarantee that the coalition will become serious and responsible, I am prepared to continue to be at the coalition's disposal. Following an agreement among coalition parties, I will decide whether to call for another vote of confidence or withdraw from office," Bognar said. (hina) sp lml