JAKOVCIC'S CLAIM IS ANNOUNCEMENT OF SECESSION OF ISTRIA -- SEKS

ZAGREB, March 29 (Hina) - Acting president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) Vladimir Seks told Wednesday's news conference about conclusions from Tuesday's session of HDZ party benches from both Parliament houses. The benches concluded the statement issued by president of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) and European Integration Minister Ivan Jakovcic about the possible autonomy of the Istria peninsula, "is no attempt to decentralise or increase the powers of the region, but is an announcement of its secession from Croatia," Seks said. He assessed the statement as anti-constitutional and damaging for the integrity of the state. "By nature this statement is an ultimatum and threat to the Prime Minister and Government, which a minister ought not to utter in the heat of passion," Seks asserted. He said the HDZ party benches had requested of the government to voice its stance whether Jakovcic's claim was the opinion of the Government, as well as whether the reduction of budgetary funds would mean the abolition of some municipalities and expansion at a lower level of local self-governments, and then at the level of counties. HDZ vice-president Ljerka Mintas Hodak refuted claims by Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic about the existence of documents that contracts and payment memoranda to US attorney David Rivkin had not been signed with the Government but rather with individuals, including Hodak herself. She said bills had been sent to her name following a contract between Rivkin and the Government, which had later been sent to the Office for Cooperation with the Hague tribunal at the foreign Ministry. However, she asserted, as a member of the then Government, she was assuming responsibility for the Government's engaging Rivkin's law company, because she was satisfied with the manner in which the company had represented Croatia's interests in The Hague. (hina) lml jn