PARLIAMENT RATIFIES STABILISATION, ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT

ZAGREB, Dec 5 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament ratified the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union by a majority vote on Wednesday.#L# Eighty-seven MPs voted in favour of the Agreement, which was signed late in October. There were no votes against. MPs of the opposition's Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Party of Rights (HSP), and the Christian Democrats (HKDU) walked out on the session before the voting. Their benches had objected to the ratification, maintaining the Agreement did not guarantee Croatia would be admitted to the EU and contained provisions which might push Croatia into new Balkan associations. They had also demanded the Agreement be ratified by a two-thirds majority, claiming the Agreement transferred some authorities from the Croatian Constitution to international organisations. This view was dismissed by parliament's Constitution, Rule Book and Political System Committee, which concluded yesterday the majority of attending MPs was sufficient for the ratification, but that it would be better if the Agreement, considering its political weight, was given the qualified majority. The MPs welcomed the ratification with a round of applause. (hina) ha sb