ZAGREB, July 13 (Hina) - Shortly before 7 p.m. on Friday the Croatian parliament decided that the parliamentary debate on relations between Croatia and the Hague war crimes tribunal should be open for the public.
ZAGREB, July 13 (Hina) - Shortly before 7 p.m. on Friday the
Croatian parliament decided that the parliamentary debate on
relations between Croatia and the Hague war crimes tribunal should
be open for the public. #L#
The parliament made this decision after it resumed today's sitting
around 6.30 p.m. The session is scheduled to resume at 7.15 p.m. by
which time direct television coverage should be ensured.
The parliament will then decide about how it will proceed, i.e.,
whether it will only discuss relations with the Hague tribunal, as
requested by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), or hold a single
discussion about cooperation with the Hague and confidence in the
government on Sunday, as requested by the ruling coalition.
The latest break in today's sitting was the fourth one and the start
of the session was postponed four times.
Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan proposed today that the
parliament hold a single debate about cooperation with the Hague
tribunal and confidence in the government as well as that its
session be public.
"What I have to say I want to say publicly and let the citizens hear
it," Racan told reporters after the session on cooperation with the
Hague war crimes tribunal was discontinued shortly after it began
this afternoon.
The closed-door session, at which the parliament was to debate
relations with the Hague tribunal, was interrupted shortly after 5
p.m. at the request of the HDZ bench, which opposed the ruling
coalition deputies' proposal that the debate on cooperation with
the Hague be postponed for Sunday when this issue could be discussed
together with confidence in the government.
The HDZ bench asked for a break to consider the proposal of the
ruling coalition.
When asked if he was going to read a letter with his objections to
the Hague indictment in parliament, Racan replied "Are you aware
that the violation of a court decision entails penalties of up to 12
months in prison, 40,000 gulden or both," he said.
"The Prime Minister can risk sanctions if he knows in the name of
what he is doing it," Racan said.
Commenting on today's claim by the head of the HDZ bench, Vladimir
Seks, who said the Hague rules did not envisage penalties for
disclosing parts of indictments, Racan said "this is not the only
peace of misinformation coming from the HDZ."
(hina) sb rml