SEKS: SABOR MUST RESPECT WILL OF 400,000 VOTERS

ZAGREB, Oct 26 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) whip, Vladimir Seks, has called on the parliament to respect the signatures of 400,000 Croatian citizens and call a referendum at which citizens should decide about passing a law whereby Croatian Homeland War soldiers would be granted the same status as that of members of all defence and anti-fascist armies after World War II. I see no reason why the Sabor should not respond to the will expressed by 400,000 citizens who sought a referendum on this matter, Seks said on Friday, wrapping up the address he started at an extraordinary parliament session in July. His address then started shortly before midnight on July 17, but as under the Constitution the session had to end before midnight, Seks' address was interrupted. He formally ended it today, stressing that all obstacles to organising a referendum, mentioned in July, had been removed. The parliament did not vote about the decision on the referendum this morning due to lack of quorum. The referendum issue was initiated by the Headquarters for the protection of Homeland War values, which launched the signing of a petition, which was signed by more than 400,000 citizens. (hina) rml