MOST COALITION PARTIES WELCOME IVANISEVIC'S DECISION, IDS CLAIMS IT WAS MADE UNDER PRESSURE

ZAGREB, April 23 (Hina) - Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) president and Croatia's European Integration Minister Ivan Jakovcic said on Monday the decision of Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic to suspend ten provisions of a recently adopted Istria County Statute was a result of political pressures. "I will not leave my ministerial post and am waiting for the decision of the Constitutional Court," Jakovcic told Hina. "If the Constitutional Court rules differently than the Ministry and decides that the Statute is not unconstitutional, somebody will have to face consequences," Jakovcic said. Jakovcic was commenting on today's decision by Croatia's Ministry of Justice on the suspension of ten provisions of the recently adopted Statute of Istria County. The ministry also decided to propose that the government initiate a procedure before the Constitutional Court which should establish whether the contentious provisions are in compliance with the Constitution. IDS deputy Dino Debeljuh said he was not surprised at Ivanisevic's decision given Prime Minister Ivica Racan's statement that the Ministry had to do something regarding this matter. Debeljuh told Hina he hoped the Constitutional Court would not declare the provisions unconstitutional because they were in line with the Constitution and the law. IDS vice-president Damir Kajin said the decision was the result of pressures by the ruling "four-" or "five-party" coalition. In a statement to Croatian Radio, Kajin recalled that the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) regime in 1994 suspended 36 provisions of the Istria County Statute and a year later the Constitutional Court suspended 18 of them. "The Ministry today suspended 10 provisions but the Constitutional Court may not suspend any," Kajin said. A Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) deputy from Istria, Jadranka Katarincic Skrlj, said Croatia had the rule of law and laws and the Constitution had to be respected. She assessed that the text of the Istria County Statute was contrary to the law and the Constitution. Sabor Speaker and Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) president Zlatko Tomcic said the Ministry's decision was a good move aimed at lessening tensions and rash and unnecessary moves by the IDS and Istria County. He added that the ruling coalition would not convene a meeting on this matter as it held it unnecessary. The HDZ welcomes the Ministry's decision and expects the Government would request the Constitutional Court to establish the constitutionality of the contentious provisions, the party president Ivo Sanader said. The Ministry's decision was also welcomed by the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP). The party expects that the Constitutional Court will suspend the ten contentious provisions and that the ruling coalition will oust the IDS which is provoking the public and destabilising Croatia, HSP head Anto Djapic said. Liberal Party (LS) president Zlatko Kramaric said the right to bilingualism was an authentic human right and part of European standards. It is necessary to establish balance between human rights, European conventions and the existing Croatian laws and I believe this is possible, Kramaric said. Five parties of the ruling coalition recently condemned the adoption of the Istria County Statute, which introduced bilingualism in the northern Adriatic peninsula of Istria. Following a meeting on April 10, the day after the adoption of the statute, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said the five coalition partners agreed the statute was a rash move, directed at winning points at upcoming local elections, and that it aggravated the situation and polarising relations in Istria and Croatia. (hina) rml