MINISTER URGES WIDEST CONSENSUS TO ADOPT CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

ZAGREB, Nov 8 (Hina) - The government's position is that the constitutional amendments should be adopted by as wide a consensus as possible, Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic told parliament's House of Representatives on behalf of the government on Wednesday. The amendments are very important and the legality and legitimacy of the constitutional reform calls for the widest consensus possible, he said. The government says the content of the constitutional amendments motion is within the framework of an initiative put forward by the government and the president of the republic in July, when the constitutional reform was launched, the minister added. Ivanisevic stressed the constitution was being reformed to reinforce the parliamentary system, decentralise government and reform local self-government, reinforce the rule of law to make judicial authority performance more efficacious, legal, and fair. The government will okay all suggestions along those lines, but will retain the right to turn down those which deviate from the fundamental objectives of the constitutional reform, Ivanisevic said. The government believes some open issues in the motion need harmonising, but this must not be to the detriment of the basic objectives of the amendments, he added. For the time being, the government is not suggesting any amendments. It will listen to those from the parliamentary debate and then state its position, the justice minister concluded. (hina) ha