DJAPIC TALKS TO PRESS IN BREAK OF TASK GROUP SESSION

ZAGREB, Nov 23 (Hina) - A four-member parliamentary task group in charge of formulating a constitutional bill which would introduce the institute of temporary disability of the President of the Republic to perform his duty briefly interrupted a Tuesday meeting due to failure to agree on the length of the institute, group member Anto Djapic told the press in the break. Djapic said the task group had also been unable to agree whether permanent disability should be introduced after the expiry of the temporary disability deadline. Djapic, a member of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), said the HSP, the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), and the Opposition Six coalition agreed the temporary disability of the President of the Republic should be introduced ten days after the President has been unable to perform his duty. The HDZ and the HSP advocate that temporary disability be set for a period of 60 days, whereas the Opposition Six is of the opinion it should last 30 days. According to the Opposition Six, after the expiry of the 30-day temporary disability deadline, the government should automatically initiate permanent disability proceedings before the Constitutional Court. The HSP is against the introduction of permanent disability, and demands that temporary disability be re-established after 60 days. Djapic said the HDZ wants the institute to introduce the possibility of both temporary and permanent disability, and for the Constitutional Court to act according to government motions. The session, which began shortly after noon, will resume at 3 pm. The task group also includes Luka Trconic of the Croatian Peasants' Party, Vladimir Seks of the HDZ, and Mato Arlovic of the Social Democratic Party, none of whom wanted to speak to the press. (hina) ha mm