GOVERNMENT DID NOT EXERT PRESSURE ON JUDICIARY - MATESA

ZAGREB, Sept 22 (Hina) - The Croatian Government has neither violated the Constitution nor has it exerted pressure on the judiciary, Premier Zlatko Matesa said on Wednesday during question time at the Croatian National Sabor's House of Representatives. Matesa stated this answering a question by Boris Kandare of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) who wanted to know if the Government, as the highest body of executive authority, would refrain from "relaying political requests by US officials to the independent judiciary regarding the execution of Mladen Naletilic Tuta". Asked by Anto Kovacevic of the Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU) whether Tuta was the last Croat to be handed over to the Hague Tribunal, Matesa said he was not familiar with the documents the Hague Tribunal was governed by. We have our own opinion about that. Since its establishment the Government has been exposed to constant pressure of the international community and new demands and it is practically functioning under quiet sanctions, Matesa said. "Tuta has still not been handed over to The Hague", said Juraj Njavro, Minister of Croatian Soldiers, responding to Djurdja Adlesic (Croatian Social Democratic Party, HSLS) who reminded him that he had promised to resign should Tuta be extradited. The Government is in no way controlling nor does it have any influence over Croatian Radio Television. This is exclusively within the jurisdiction of the HRT Council, in which no Government member holds a seat, Matesa said answering a question by Zeljko Pavlic (HSLS) about HRT's decision to collect television fees from pension allowances through a court. (hina) jn rml