HEADQUARTERS FOR PROTECTION OF HOMELAND WAR DIGNITY FORWARDS PETITION TO PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - Representatives of the central headquarters for the protection of the dignity of the Homeland Defence War on Monday forwarded to Croatian parliament speaker Zlatko Tomcic a petition with over 400,000 signatures demanding a referendum for the passing of a law which would ensure the same legal treatment for Homeland War veterans and members of all liberation armies from World War II and after. The signing of a petition, which includes about 403,000 signatures, was organised by the central headquarters in early February. This is a historical day for Croatia's democracy, president of the headquarters Mirko Condic said, adding he expected the parliament to include a request for the referendum in its agenda. Parliament speaker Tomcic said everything would be analysed in order to make sure that all conditions had been fulfilled. The parliament and the committee for the Constitution and Rule Book will analyse everything and inform the headquarters of its decision within several days, Tomcic said. The president of the parliament's committee for the Constitution and Rule Book, Mato Arlovic, said the committee would discussed whether a referendum could be held based on a petition. (hina) it