NEW PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT SHOULD CHOOSE MANDATARY FOR NEW GOVT - SAYS PAVLETIC

ZAGREB, Jan 7 (Hina) - Croatian parliament president and acting head of state Vlatko Pavletic said on Friday it would be logical the mandate for the composition of the new government should be given by the new president of parliament. The minute the new president of parliament is elected, he can give the mandate for the composition of the new government, Pavletic told reporters in Zagreb. He confirmed next week he would discuss the constitution of the new House of Representatives with the leaders of the parties and coalitions making up the new composition. "I will hear their opinions and suggestions, and will also acquaint them with my idea of how to shorten the deadline for the turn-over while fully keeping it within the deadlines from the Constitution," Pavletic said, pointing out constitutional deadlines cannot be shortened. Affecting the constitution of the House of Representatives is the fact that recent parliamentary elections will have to be repeated in 11 polling stations in Croatia. Following this, deadlines for submitting objections to the National Electoral Commission or filing complaints with the Constitutional Court come into force. Only then does the constitutional and electoral law-stipulated 20- day deadline for the constitution of the new parliament begin. Pavletic said those 20 days might come into effect either on January 18, or later in case of complaints to the Constitutional Court. Before that, talks may be held on the distribution of vice presidential seats in the Lower House, and on how to form the new government, Pavletic said. He added the new government would be formed after the constitution of the House of Representatives, in which the electoral winners, the former opposition, now have a stable majority for doing so. Pavletic commended the coalition which won the January 3 parliamentary elections, pointing out the victory was binding. "It is a big obligation, we must all take part in it, because it is in Croatia's interest to prevent things from 'degenerating', and to avoid some turnabouts which would lead to what in 1990 was avoided, and this is the manifestation of even local revanchism," said Pavletic. He voiced hope skilled peopled would come to the right positions, and that this would not be connected with their political past or correctness. Asked if some officials had announced their resignations, Pavletic said Office for National Security manager Ivan Jarnjak, who wants to become active in parliament, had done so, as had the head of the cabinet of the President of the Republic, and some advisers. (hina) ha mm