OPPOSITION LEAVES UPPER HOUSE SESSION

ZAGREB, Dec 15 (Hina) - Representatives of five Croatian opposition parties in the parliament's House of Counties on Tuesday left an Upper House evening session in protest for the non-adoption of any opposition amendment to the draft budget for 1999. Ratko Maricic of the Social Democratic Party told reporters Deputy Finance Minister Mijo Jukic had without explanations adopted only some of a number of amendments motioned by the ruling Croatian Democratic Union. Some of these amendments, said Jukic, were identical to those motioned by the opposition. He stressed that not one exclusively opposition-motioned amendment had been adopted. Opposition representatives said parliamentary proceedings had also been violated. According to Petar Novacki of the Croatian Peasants' Party, the Rule Book stipulates that each amendment must undergo voting independently, not as part of a group of amendments. The other three opposition parties which left the session were the Croatian Social Liberal Party, the Liberal Party, and the Istrian Democratic Assembly. (hina) ha mm