U ZAGREB, March 1 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Wednesday expressed belief that a group of experts, which he appointed earlier in the day with an aim to develop a foundation for constitutional changes, could complete its
task within a month. "In one month we will receive basics and be able to precisely asses when constitutional changes could take place", Mesic said. The President stressed that at the moment it was difficult to asses when constitutional changes could take place. "It is difficult to say this at the moment, because the changes are not minor. It is necessary that political, expert and the overall Croatian public express their opinion", President Mesic said. Commenting on an idea, according to which citizens would also give their opinion on constitutional changes at a referendum, Mesic said that the referendum would oblige the Croatian Government the most. The decision, however, wi
U ZAGREB, March 1 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on
Wednesday expressed belief that a group of experts, which he
appointed earlier in the day with an aim to develop a foundation for
constitutional changes, could complete its task within a month.
"In one month we will receive basics and be able to precisely asses
when constitutional changes could take place", Mesic said.
The President stressed that at the moment it was difficult to asses
when constitutional changes could take place. "It is difficult to
say this at the moment, because the changes are not minor. It is
necessary that political, expert and the overall Croatian public
express their opinion", President Mesic said.
Commenting on an idea, according to which citizens would also give
their opinion on constitutional changes at a referendum, Mesic said
that the referendum would oblige the Croatian Government the most.
The decision, however, will be passed in the parliament, President
Mesic told reporters.
When asked about changes of the President's jurisdiction,
President Mesic said that Croatia had already voted for the
parliamentary democracy, which meant the narrowing of the
President's jurisdiction.
Mesic believes that Croatia's President should represent Croatian
interest in the country and abroad, must participate in the
creation of foreign policy, and must be the commander of the
Croatian Army. Mesic added that Croatia's President must be well
informed, which means that the President should, in a certain way,
participate in the appointments of intelligence services, which by
all means should be controlled by the Croatian National Sabor.
Mesic said that so far, the President had the jurisdiction which was
the result of "extensive interpretation", and stressed that "in the
future this should be excluded".
Reporters wondered whether it was possible that other regulations
of the Constitution be changed, such as a regulation on the
outlawing of proceedings of Croatia's joining Balkan alliances.
"After it was included in the Constitution, the regulation was very
soon violated, because a confederation with the Federation of
Bosnia-Herzegovina was proposed... In other words , this is only
evidence that the regulation is not of special significance, unless
it is backed up by the political will. And the political will is not
the joining any smaller associations in the region, but that
Croatia's strategic goal be the European Union and NATO pact. This
should be our orientation and not associations in the region, for
they no longer make any sense", President Mesic told reporters.
(hina) it jn