UPPER HOUSE ADOPTS TWO DECLARATIONS

ZAGREB, Sept 26 (Hina) - Following Tuesday's day-long debate, the Croatian parliament's upper house adopted two declarations, one on the Homeland War, and the other on the jeopardising of the constitutional order, the rule of law, and the functioning of the law-based state. The House of Counties also adopted a conclusion by the Croatian Party of Rights moving that the House of Representatives initiate denying confidence in the interior and veterans' ministers, and establishing the accountability of the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister for jeopardising the constitutional order. The Homeland War Declaration, among else, points out that Croatia's early 1990s war for independence from the former Yugoslav federation was a defence, liberation, and fair war. The Declaration resolutely refutes claims that the Croatian army committed crimes during the war which, it says, some domestic and international circles are attempting to impose. The Declaration on the Jeopardising of the Constitutional Order says "the pinnacle of breaching the Constitution" is the statement by the Prime Minister to the effect that Milan Levar, who testified before the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague, was killed by war criminals, or the statement by the President of the Republic that half the members making up the recently established headquarters for the protection of the dignity of the Homeland War were major criminals. In the second declaration, parliament's upper house resolutely demands that all responsible bodies and institutions work strictly within constitutional and legal frameworks, that they put an end to intimidation and the creation of an atmosphere of fear, anxiety and insecurity, and the policy which leads to divisions and conflicts within Croatia. The two documents will be forwarded to the lower house for debate. (hina) ha