HDZ MPS CONSIDER POSSIBILITY OF BOYCOTTING LOWER HOUSE

ZAGREB, Feb 25 (Hina) - Deputies of the opposition Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) will consider their further participation in the work of the House of Representatives of the Croatian National Parliament, if a Sabor Deputy Speaker, Mato Arlovic, does not withdraw a warning he issued to Vladimir Seks, the head of the HDZ parliamentary bench. During Friday morning's voting on conclusions of a discussion on the State Audit's report, Drago Krpina of the HDZ and Arlovic began a heated debate on whose conclusions should first be voted - whether those should be conclusions of the lower house's agriculture committee, whose head is Drago Krpina or conclusions made by the Social Democratic Party (SDP). After Krpina insisted on his suggestion, Arlovic warned him of his behaviour. Then Vladimir Seks joined the debate, assessing that Arlovic breached the Rule Book, in view of the fact that draft conclusions which are first submitted should be first voted on, and claimed that this time it was the proposal of the agriculture committee. Arlovic replied to Seks that there was no violation of the Rule Book and warned him "concerning that (Seks) is an experienced person in the Sabor." Then Seks said he had only expressed his opinion. "I needn't be right, but it is very unusual to warn a leader of the opposition only because they have said their opinion," the HDZ representative added. After that there was no more discussion on this matter. At the end of Friday's session, however, Seks asked to be allowed to say something and then on behalf of HDZ deputies threatened to boycott the further work of the Sabor in case Arlovic did not annul his warning uttered to Seks. Arlovic, who chaired today's session, said he would consider with Sabor Speaker Zlatko Tomcic and Presidency all circumstances under which he had decided to warn this HDZ deputy. (hina) jn ms