ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor's House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously adopted an annual report of the Croatian Ombudsman, Ante Klaric. During a discussion members of the parliament commended Klaric
and his aides for their work in 1999, and pointed to the impermissible conduct of bodies of the state administration towards the Ombudsman and to bad situation in the judiciary. On behalf of the SDP (Social Democratic Party) bench, Jadranka Reihl-Kir accentuated the data that even 40 percent of citizens' complaints and appeals referred to the work of courts that spend several years for some cases. She warned that many institutions turned a deaf ear to requests forwarded from the Ombudsman's office about receiving data. On behalf of the HSLS (Croatian Social Liberal Party) bench, Vilim Herman stressed that the Ombudsman did not have enough authority. He added that vari
ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor's House of
Representatives on Thursday unanimously adopted an annual report
of the Croatian Ombudsman, Ante Klaric.
During a discussion members of the parliament commended Klaric and
his aides for their work in 1999, and pointed to the impermissible
conduct of bodies of the state administration towards the Ombudsman
and to bad situation in the judiciary.
On behalf of the SDP (Social Democratic Party) bench, Jadranka
Reihl-Kir accentuated the data that even 40 percent of citizens'
complaints and appeals referred to the work of courts that spend
several years for some cases. She warned that many institutions
turned a deaf ear to requests forwarded from the Ombudsman's office
about receiving data.
On behalf of the HSLS (Croatian Social Liberal Party) bench, Vilim
Herman stressed that the Ombudsman did not have enough authority.
He added that various bodies of state administration must respond,
under law, within 30 days to the Ombudsman's warnings and
recommendations and notify him of taken measures.
On behalf of the bench of LS and HNS (Liberal Party and Croatian
People's Party), Zlatko Kramaric pointed to an alarming fact that
some state institutions adopted internal acts that rescinded or
changed legislative provisions. There is danger to create a "double
state" and this must cease, Kramaric said.
According to him, it is also worrisome that nothing changed for
better in comparison to previous years. Most endangered rights are
property and tenancy rights, rights referring to pension and health
insurance, citizenship rights, rights of refugees and displaced
persons and the rights of Homeland War veterans, Kramaric said.
During the debate, a SDP deputy, Milanka Opacic, warned about the
problem of a lack of responsibility. In Croatia there are many who
fail to perform their job in compliance with law but are not
subsequently held accountable, she added.
Giving his closing speech, Ombudsman Klaric said he believed that
laws would no longer be adjusted to current political and other
conditions, but would be passed according to a human scale and
possibilities of the country.
The House of Representatives today adopted unanimously a few
conclusions. It obliged the Government to prepare a list of laws
that should be amended in order that freedom and human rights be
protected. The Government was asked to submit a report on acts and
other rules that derogate some provisions of laws in effect.
The lower house requested that the Government should prepare a law
which will help establish the institute of the children's ombudsman
in 2001 in order that child's rights be better protected.
(hina) ms