ZAGREB, Nov 23 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa on Tuesday said the government so far had no knowledge of facts which would point to the necessity of initiating proceedings for permanent disability of the President of the
Republic to perform his duty. "There has been no new information which would urge us to do that. The fact is that the President's health has deteriorated, and due to the statements of the doctors' team and their dynamics, we are now especially concerned," Matesa told the press in Zagreb regarding the latest report by the doctors' team.
ZAGREB, Nov 23 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa on Tuesday
said the government so far had no knowledge of facts which would
point to the necessity of initiating proceedings for permanent
disability of the President of the Republic to perform his duty.
"There has been no new information which would urge us to do that.
The fact is that the President's health has deteriorated, and due to
the statements of the doctors' team and their dynamics, we are now
especially concerned," Matesa told the press in Zagreb regarding
the latest report by the doctors' team. #L#
Permanent disability could be based on many factors and assessment
of same, and it depends primarily on the duration of the medical
treatment, the possibility of recovery, and the doctors' team
opinion.
"So far, the Government has had no knowledge of facts which would
point to the necessity of initiating such proceedings, nor is the
duration of the President's stay in hospital disproportionate to
the operation that was performed, nor was the possibility of
recovery dubious, nor did the reports of the doctors' team indicate
such a possibility", Matesa told a news conference.
The decision on permanent disability is a difficult decision
because it means that the president of the state, who was legally
elected in a general election, becomes permanently disabled and
prevented from performing his duty, Matesa said.
"This is an extremely drastic and serious decision because it means
that in case of his recovery, he would not be able to return to his
office", Matesa said.
On behalf of the Government, the Premier expressed full support for
the efforts of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and opposition
parties in parliament to regulate the institute of the President's
temporary disability. The Constitution lacks elements regarding
the institute of temporary disability, and this should be regulated
not only for the sake of the current situation, but also for the
future, Matesa said.
Reporters wanted to know if the Premier had talked with President
Tudjman during a recent visit to the hospital where the President is
undergoing treatment.
"Leaving the hospital, I clearly said that I had seen the President.
This means that I was with him, that I talked to him, that I saw that
he recognised me. The President did not talk to me then, because he
was unable to talk due to the medical treatment then underway,"
Matesa said.
The Premier emphasised the members of President Tudjman's doctors'
team had been made known to the public, that they were working on the
principle of consensus, and that their statements must be accepted
by all members.
It is normal and the only possibility that there should be only one
doctors' team statement, Matesa said, pointing out the opinion
given to the Premier could not be different than the one released to
the public. He reminded that the team had been formed in late 1996
and its composition had changed with time depending also on the type
of the disease.
Despite the reporters' insistence to reveal the composition of the
doctors' team, Matesa refused to comment on it. "The composition
has been made public. The doctors' team operates in such a way that,
according to the course of the disease and if required, it consults
with various other doctors from the country and the world. This is a
common procedure", Matesa said.
The Government has been entrusted with maintaining the political
and economic stability of the country and the functioning of
authority since the beginning of the President's treatment, Matesa
said. "I believe the Government has fully succeeded in doing so,
there are no problems in the functioning of state structures, nor is
there anything else which would point to an extraordinary situation
in the country", Matesa said.
The parliament, government, state administration, local
government and self-government function normally, within the frame
of constitutional and legislative authority. It will be so in the
future, no changes should be expected, the Premier said.
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