CRO VETERANS' MINISTER COMMENTS ON PETITION ON REFERENDUM

BABINA GREDA, Feb 20 (Hina) - Commenting the commencement of the signing of petitions for calling a referendum on the passing of a constitutional law which would treat Croatian Homeland Defence War soldiers equally as other members of any western country and anti- fascist soldiers, Croatian Homeland Defence War Soldiers' Minister Ivica Pancic told Hina Tuesday it was the democratic right of any association or individual to sign any petition. However, Pancic added, "it is questionable whether Croatia, which is on the path towards reforms and the establishment of a democratic system of a law-based state, need this at this moment". "The creation of new separations within Croatian citizens is not useful," Pancic stressed. The Zagreb County Centre for the protection of the Croatian Homeland Defence War dignity on Tuesday organised in Zagreb the signing of a petition on calling a referendum on the adoption of a constitutional law which would secure equal treatment for all defence war veterans such as members of all armies of western countries and members of the anti-fascist movement in Croatia have had. The signing of the petition also began in Split. (hina) lml