GOVERNMENT TO DISCUSS ISTRIAN STATUTE, LOCAL ELECTIONS TOMORROW

ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - The Croatian government will tomorrow decide whether to accept the suggestion by the Justice Ministry to initiate a process before the Constitutional Court to determine the regularity and legality of 10 provisions of the Istria County Statute, including those on the equal usage of Italian language alongside Croatian at the level of the entire county. Prime Minister Ivica Racan said he was for accepting the ministry's suggestion on the basis of which the Constitutional Court would be asked to make a competent decision. The Constitutional Court is the only one competent to determine whether certain provisions of the Istrian County Statute are contradictory to the Constitution, Racan told Croatian Radio. The ministry on April 20 plugged the implementation of contentious statutory provisions, and suggested the government initiate proceedings before the Constitutional Court. A statute cannot introduce the parallel use of two languages in the entire county. The county can only do so in the work of its bodies, while equality of languages in certain municipalities and towns is regulated by the statute, Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic said while briefing reporters about suspending a part of the Statute, a month ago. The government will tomorrow be informed about the implementation of yesterday's local elections in Croatia, particularly about any irregularities and possible need for elections to be repeated in some areas due to irregularities. (hina) lml