ZAGREB, April 23 (Hina) - Croatia's ministry of justice, state administration and local self-government has decided to suspend ten provisions of the recently adopted Statute of Istria County. The justice ministry is going to propose
to the government to instigate the procedure before the Constitutional Court which should then establish whether the contentious provisions are in compliance with the Constitution, Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic said at a news conference in Zagreb on Monday. The same procedure will be required for another articles and items of the statute which the Ministry has not suspended. Ivanisevic explained that the purpose of such a decision was not to contest the minority rights or rights of bodies of local self-government but to adjust norms on lower level to the laws and the Constitution. The statute, which Istria County has recently passed, introduces bilingualism on
ZAGREB, April 23 (Hina) - Croatia's ministry of justice, state
administration and local self-government has decided to suspend
ten provisions of the recently adopted Statute of Istria County.
The justice ministry is going to propose to the government to
instigate the procedure before the Constitutional Court which
should then establish whether the contentious provisions are in
compliance with the Constitution, Justice Minister Stjepan
Ivanisevic said at a news conference in Zagreb on Monday.
The same procedure will be required for another articles and items
of the statute which the Ministry has not suspended.
Ivanisevic explained that the purpose of such a decision was not to
contest the minority rights or rights of bodies of local self-
government but to adjust norms on lower level to the laws and the
Constitution.
The statute, which Istria County has recently passed, introduces
bilingualism on this biggest Croatian peninsula where the Italian
minority lives. Consequently, the use of the Croatian and Italian
languages are equalised.
(hina) ms