ZAGREB, Oct 22 (Hina) - The new bill on defence aims at precisely defining powers exercised in the field of defence by the three highest institutions of authority, Defence Minister Jozo Rados said, adding the bill introduced balance
among Parliament, Government and the President of the Republic, enabling them to control each other in the process of decision-making. Speaking at Monday's session of the parliament Committee on Internal Affairs and National Security, Rados reiterated the bill was aimed at transferring to parliament and government some powers which under the current law were exercised exclusively by the President of the Republic as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Problems could arise regarding the double responsibility of the Armed Forces' Chief-of-Staff, who, in some cases, answers both to the Defence Minister and the President of the Republic. Participating in the closed-door session were many e
ZAGREB, Oct 22 (Hina) - The new bill on defence aims at precisely
defining powers exercised in the field of defence by the three
highest institutions of authority, Defence Minister Jozo Rados
said, adding the bill introduced balance among Parliament,
Government and the President of the Republic, enabling them to
control each other in the process of decision-making.
Speaking at Monday's session of the parliament Committee on
Internal Affairs and National Security, Rados reiterated the bill
was aimed at transferring to parliament and government some powers
which under the current law were exercised exclusively by the
President of the Republic as the Supreme Commander of the Armed
Forces.
Problems could arise regarding the double responsibility of the
Armed Forces' Chief-of-Staff, who, in some cases, answers both to
the Defence Minister and the President of the Republic.
Participating in the closed-door session were many experts and
representatives of non-government associations, who presented a
number of objections to the bill.
Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO) president Zarko Puhovski warned
that apart from threats to the territorial integrity and
sovereignty of the state, the bill should also mention threats to
citizens, as regulated by laws in most western European countries.
The head of the Centre for Defence Studies, Bozidar Javorovic,
warned about the need to introduce the territorial component of the
armed forces should obligatory military service be abolished.
Javorovic believes Croatia cannot be defended only by professional
soldiers, not even within NATO.
Civic associations welcomed noncombatant military service being
excluded from the bill and the announcement that this issue would be
regulated with a separate law.
(hina) sb rml