ZAGREB, July 14 (Hina) - The relations between Croatia and the UN war crimes tribunal (ICTY) and the motion for a vote of confidence in the incumbent government are two main topics of the 13th session, which the Croatian parliament
resumes on Sunday. Tomorrow, at the very start of the session, it will be decided whether the issue about the cooperation with the Tribunal should be discussed, according to a proposal of MPs from the ruling coalition, together with the debate on the motion for the confidence vote in the government, or the two topics should be considered separately on which the strongest opposition party HDZ insist. Earlier this week the HDZ requested a discussion on the relations with the Tribunal in the wake of the July 7 government's decision to comply with ICTY requests about the hand-over of Croatian citizens. The HDZ demand was prompted by the fact that Zagreb was recently s
ZAGREB, July 14 (Hina) - The relations between Croatia and the UN
war crimes tribunal (ICTY) and the motion for a vote of confidence
in the incumbent government are two main topics of the 13th session,
which the Croatian parliament resumes on Sunday.
Tomorrow, at the very start of the session, it will be decided
whether the issue about the cooperation with the Tribunal should be
discussed, according to a proposal of MPs from the ruling
coalition, together with the debate on the motion for the
confidence vote in the government, or the two topics should be
considered separately on which the strongest opposition party HDZ
insist.
Earlier this week the HDZ requested a discussion on the relations
with the Tribunal in the wake of the July 7 government's decision to
comply with ICTY requests about the hand-over of Croatian citizens.
The HDZ demand was prompted by the fact that Zagreb was recently
served two sealed indictments by the ICTY and HDZ members asked that
government officials inform the Sabor whether the indictments
contained unacceptable political labels for the Croatian Homeland
Defence War.
According to some information, a letter of objections which Premier
Ivica Racan forwarded to The Hague upon receiving the two secret
indictments show that the ICTY's indictments allege that Croatia
launched aggression against the so-called Republic of Serb Krajina
(Croatian areas occupied by Serb rebels) with the aim of ethnic
cleansing.
Two opposition parties HDZ and DC (Democratic Centre) as well as the
Croatian Liberals (HSLS) who are in the ruling coalition, insist
that PM Racan read out his letter in the parliament; otherwise, it
will be impossible for MPs to conduct the discussion.
Racan refuted such possibility as sanctions will be imposed if he
disclose the contents of the sealed indictments.
The violation of a court decision entails penalties of up to 12
months in prison, 40,000 gulden or both, he said on Friday.
Although some members of the Sabor ask for a discussion on the
entire programme of the incumbent authorities, the cooperation
with th ICTY is likely to be a key point in the debate on confidence
in the Racan Cabinet.
Last Saturday Racan asked the Sabor to put the confidence motion on
its agenda, after the government failed to reach consensus on its
decision to act in accordance with the ICTY's requests. During that
session of the government, one member of the HSLS voted against the
government's decision and two abstained.
The Racan Cabinet can now count on votes for confidence of 65 MPs
from four ruling parties - 45 of Social Democrats (SDP), 16 of
Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) and two of Croatian People's Party
(HNS) and Liberal Party (LS) each.
Four MPs from the Istrian democratic Assembly (IDS), which recently
left the ruling coalition, have pledged to vote for confidence.
Confidence can be expressed also by national minorities that have
three representatives in the Sabor, and by parties: PGS (Primorje-
Gorski Kotar Alliance) with two seats, SBHS (Slavonia Baranja
Croatian Party), HND (Croatian Independent Democrats) and SNS
(Serb People's Party) - each with one seat.
If all the said representatives support the government, the Racan
Cabinet will win 77 votes. It needs 76 votes to survive the
confidence motion.
For the time being it is uncertain how 23 HSLS representatives will
vote. The party seems divided, but the HSLS acting President Jozo
Rados said on Saturday that for his party, which is a member of the
ruling coalition "it would be logical to express support to the
Government."
It remains to be seen how an independent deputy, Ivo Loncar, who won
the seat being on the slate of the HSS and who turned to be a very
severe critic of the incumbent authorities, will vote.
DC on Saturday said its four members in the Sabor would vote against
confidence.
It is certain that HDZ with 41 seats and the five-member bench of the
opposition parties HSP and HKDU will not support the Racan
Cabinet.
If a vote of no confidence in the prime minister or the Government as
a whole is passed, the prime minister and the government should
submit their resignation to the President of the Republic, read the
constitution.
After that, there are two options.
One of them is call early parliamentary elections.
The other one is that President Stjepan Mesic offers the mandate to
a new premier-designate for the formation of a new government. The
latter option is less possible, given that the current opposition
is not able to constitute a new government, as it cannot muster the
vote of over 70 MPs.
On Sunday, the Sabor should discuss the HDZ's proposal that on the
ground of a petition signed by 450,000 voters, a referendum should
be called on the question whether the Croatian Homeland Defence War
veterans should be treated equally as other veterans of victorious
armies in the wake of the Second World War.
Tomorrow's session will be open.
(hina) sb ms