ZAGREB, July 10 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Tuesday refused a proposal by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) which requested that a debate on relations between Croatia and the Hague war crimes tribunal be included in the
parliamentary agenda in urgent procedure. The parliament also turned down the party's draft on changes to the Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the ICTY. There is no other question which could be more important for the parliament considering that the sealed indictments from the Hague include unacceptable elements and aim at revising events in Croatia from the early 1990's, HDZ president Ivo Sanader said. Some people in the Hague want to depict the Homeland War as an act of aggression on the so-called Republic of Serb Krajina and the ethnic cleansing of 150,000 Serbs, says Sanader. Sanader assumes that generals Ante Gotovina and Rahim Ademi are charged on the bas
ZAGREB, July 10 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Tuesday refused
a proposal by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) which requested
that a debate on relations between Croatia and the Hague war crimes
tribunal be included in the parliamentary agenda in urgent
procedure. The parliament also turned down the party's draft on
changes to the Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the ICTY.
There is no other question which could be more important for the
parliament considering that the sealed indictments from the Hague
include unacceptable elements and aim at revising events in Croatia
from the early 1990's, HDZ president Ivo Sanader said.
Some people in the Hague want to depict the Homeland War as an act of
aggression on the so-called Republic of Serb Krajina and the ethnic
cleansing of 150,000 Serbs, says Sanader.
Sanader assumes that generals Ante Gotovina and Rahim Ademi are
charged on the basis of objective superior responsibility, which he
holds unacceptable and contrary to Croatia's constitution as well
as its Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the ICTY and a U.N.
Security Council resolution under which the indictments can be
based only on personal, individual and not collective
responsibility.
Sanader announced a proposal for organising a referendum on the
basis of 400,000 collected signatures demanding that Croatian
soldiers be treated the same way as members of all anti-fascist and
other victorious armies in the world.
Parliament Speaker Zlatko Tomcic said that HDZ's requests, which
were similar to a request by the Democratic Centre party, were not
in line with the parliament's Rule Book because they should have
been signed by at least 51 deputies.
He therefore suggested that the HDZ collect the signatures or start
consultations with other parties on how these requests could be
discussed.
He warned though that the indictments were sealed, that they were
secret and that the names mentioned in the indictments and their
content could not be publicly discussed because of the threat of
sanctions.
The HDZ proposal will be discussed in a debate on confidence in the
government anyway, he said.
After Tomcic's answer, the HDZ asked for a break to hold
consultations with other parties.
(hina) rml