29 MPS MISS DEADLINE ON HANDING OVER ASSET DECLARATIONS

( Editorial: --> 4301 ) ZAGREB, Sept 30 (Hina) - A total of 29 MPs have failed to meet the legal deadline on submitting their asset declarations to Croatian National Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic. Fifteen opposition MPs and 14 from the governing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) had not handed over their declarations by Tuesday. Pavletic told reporters in Zagreb on Wednesday that 107 of 128 members of the House of Representatives had submitted their declarations. Of the 21 who failed to meet the deadline, 10 were from opposition ranks and 11 from the HDZ. Sixty of the 68 deputies in the House of Counties had filled their declaration forms. Those who missed out were three from the HDZ and five from the opposition. All state officials who under the law had to notify their property situation to the Croatian National Parliament President have done so. These include the state President, the Croatian National Bank Governor and the Chief State Auditor. Of the opposition MPs who had not submitted their asset declarations, five were from the Croatian Peasants Party (HSS) and three from the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS). One MP from each of the following parties - the Croatian Social-Liberal Party (HSLS), the Istrian Democratic Forum (IDF), the Liberal Party (LS), the Rijeka Democratic Alliance (RiDS), the Serb People's Party (SNS), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Slavonia and Baranja Croatian Party (SBHS) - had not given their asset declaration forms to Pavletic. The Parliamentary President said he did not know why several MPs from the HDZ and the opposition had not fulfilled their legal obligations, despite numerous notices. He said there was no penalty for not submitting the declarations but MPs had a moral obligation. MPs have the least right in not recognising a law since they delivered it themselves. The deadline period for submitting declarations was sufficiently long, he said. The declarations will be available to reporters today. The parliamentary service will also prepare computer discs with the data within days, when the information will be available over the Internet. (Hina) mbr 301601 MET sep 98