PAVLETIC ASSUMES DUTIES OF PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC

ZAGREB, Nov 26 (Hina) - Croatian National Parliament president Vlatko Pavletic on Friday assumed the duties of the President of the Republic for the duration of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's temporary disability to perform his duty. Pavletic was handed the Constitutional Court decision on President Tudjman's temporary disability by Premier Zlatko Matesa at 1.05 p.m. "From this moment You replace the President of the Republic, and to this effect I present You with this document," Matesa told Pavletic. The premier reminded that parliament two days ago passed the Constitutional Law on the Temporary Disability of the President of the Republic to Perform His Duty. Under the law, the government initiated proceedings for the establishment of the President's temporary disability, and in doing so requested and was granted the opinion of President Tudjman's team of doctors. Based on the opinion, the government yesterday afternoon forwarded to the Constitutional Court a motion for the establishment of temporary disability. The Court today passed a decision which established the temporary disability of President Tudjman to perform his duties, and this, on the basis of the Constitution and the Constitutional Law, provided conditions for making Pavletic acting President of the Republic. Pointing to the importance of the present moment for the entire Croatia, Pavletic reminded that going on in the Dubrava clinic is a struggle which, he said, we all wished will end as all the battles led by President Franjo Tudjman have ended. "To prevent discontinuity in the functioning of the state, the Constitutional Law was passed on the basis of which I now take over the task, duties, and powers which I am entitled to under the Constitution. This means that I must pursue with what the President would do," Pavletic said. He added he would ensure the functioning of the state, the defence of the state, a peaceful transition into the electoral period, call the elections, and agree and ensure with all in Croatia who may influence so the perfect performance of duties on all levels, regardless of the difficult situation Croatia is in. Those who wanted to draw some conclusions about an alleged commotion in the government have been given the best answer in parliament today, as well as in the behaviour of the government which is carrying out its tasks as it would do were President Tudjman at his office, Pavletic said. Pavletic said the impending parliamentary elections must be democratic, fair, indisputable. They must enable us to know to whom the electoral body has given its vote, he said. "Until then, this government and this authority will function as best as possible." Asked about the possible date of the elections, Pavletic said he believed it had been agreed parliamentary parties would try to reach consensus, as the president of the parliamentary bench of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union announced yesterday on Croatian Television. "It will most certainly be done as soon as possible, and when the talks yield a date which would be acceptable to all and which is realistically feasible, I will call the elections for that day," said Pavletic. Asked if he would sign today the acts the House of Representatives passed on 12 November, Pavletic said he had the right to sign what pertains to the right of the President of the Republic and that he would do so. (hina) ha