ZAGREB, April 13 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor's House of Representatives will discuss the government's draft declaration on cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Friday. After a
short and heated debate in the afternoon part of today's session, the discussion on the draft declaration was postponed for tomorrow, and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) withdrew its proposal on a debate about the protection of dignity of the Homeland War, so that it could prepare better for the discussion. This compromise was preceded by a number of meetings between parties and a joint meeting of representatives of all party benches during a session break. Both the parliamentary majority and the Opposition insisted on their stands: the ruling coalition requested that the draft declaration be discussed today, together with the item "Protection of Dignity of the Home
ZAGREB, April 13 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor's House of
Representatives will discuss the government's draft declaration on
cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for former
Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Friday.
After a short and heated debate in the afternoon part of today's
session, the discussion on the draft declaration was postponed for
tomorrow, and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) withdrew its
proposal on a debate about the protection of dignity of the Homeland
War, so that it could prepare better for the discussion.
This compromise was preceded by a number of meetings between
parties and a joint meeting of representatives of all party benches
during a session break. Both the parliamentary majority and the
Opposition insisted on their stands: the ruling coalition
requested that the draft declaration be discussed today, together
with the item "Protection of Dignity of the Homeland War", whereas
deputies of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Croatian
Party of Rights (HSP) insisted that the debate be postponed until
next Wednesday and that the two topics be considered separately.
We received the draft declaration only this morning around 11.30;
this is a sensitive issue and one has to prepare seriously for it,
said Vladimir Seks of the HDZ. There are several very dubious claims
in the draft, Seks said.
The HDZ proposal was supported by the Croatian Party of
Rights/Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HSP/HKDU) bench.
Mato Arlovic of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) insisted,
however, that the debate be held today. The draft strengthens
Croatia's political position toward the ICTY and it would be good to
discuss that topic as soon as possible, he added.
Arlovic's stand was supported by the benches of the ruling
coalition of six parties.
After a short duel in which deputies used arguments from the Rule
Book to support their proposals, the two sides agreed to discuss the
draft declaration tomorrow, and that the protection of dignity of
the Homeland War be debated after the HDZ consults with interested
associations.
(hina) jn rml