ZAGREB, March 8 (Hina) - Croatian National Parliament vice-president Zarko Domljan will participate in a session of the Council of Europe's Monitoring Committee in Paris on Wednesday. The session will focus on Croatia's obligations,
the electoral law, independence of the judiciary, suspended legal provisions and the dual role of a county prefect. A draft report on Croatia was adopted at the last committee session, but some deadlines still have to be set. A revision of the Constitution is requested to be carried out a sufficient amount of time prior to elections, Domljan said. The Monitoring Committee also requested changes regarding the state judicial council and that more independence be granted to the judiciary. "Croatia has committed itself to doing so by the end of April at the latest," Domljan said. The Croatian Constitutional Human Rights Law has also been requested to be reviewed, in li
ZAGREB, March 8 (Hina) - Croatian National Parliament vice-
president Zarko Domljan will participate in a session of the
Council of Europe's Monitoring Committee in Paris on Wednesday.
The session will focus on Croatia's obligations, the electoral law,
independence of the judiciary, suspended legal provisions and the
dual role of a county prefect.
A draft report on Croatia was adopted at the last committee session,
but some deadlines still have to be set.
A revision of the Constitution is requested to be carried out a
sufficient amount of time prior to elections, Domljan said.
The Monitoring Committee also requested changes regarding the
state judicial council and that more independence be granted to the
judiciary.
"Croatia has committed itself to doing so by the end of April at the
latest," Domljan said.
The Croatian Constitutional Human Rights Law has also been
requested to be reviewed, in line with recommendations by the
Venetian Commission by the end of October at the latest.
This deadline also applies for amendments to the law on local self-
government, in line with the charter and recommendations of the
Congress of local and regional authorities.
"The role of the county prefect is contentious," Domljan said.
Participating also will be a member of the Croatian delegation at
the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, count Jakob Eltz of
Vukovar.
The draft report, including the requested changes and deadlines,
will also be discussed by the Parliamentary Assembly on April 28.
However, this will not be an end to the monitoring of Croatia,
because Croatia has still not fulfilled all the requested
commitments and the Council of Europe will continue to follow this
process, Domljan stressed.
The report says Croatia will be discussed again within a year, at
the Parliamentary session in April of 2000 at the latest.
(hina) lml