CROATIAN UPPER HOUSE ENDORSES CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

( Editorial: --> 5335 ) ZAGREB, Dec 2 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's upper House of Counties on Tuesday endorsed draft constitutional amendments with 38 votes in favour, ten against and eight abstentions. The proposed constitutional changes were fully supported by deputies of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party, who assessed as very important a proposal to ban Croatia from entering any alliances with other states that might lead to the restoration of a Yugoslav state community or any form of Balkan association. Reservations towards this provision were expressed, among others, by Ivan Ninic of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Petar Jurusic of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), who said "it would never cross any Croat's mind to integrate with someone from 'the eastern side'." Regarding a proposal for changing the name "Sabor" (parliament) into the "Croatian State Sabor", HDZ deputy Pasko Bubalo said that the latter name had a basis in Croatian history and tradition. Ratko Maricic of the SDP said that the current name was good and that it should not be changed, while HSS deputy Petar Jurisic suggested a new name, the Croatian People's Sabor. Deputies also expressed different opinions on a proposal that the listing of national minorities in the preamble to the Constitution should be left out. Responding to questions by deputies on possible effects of such a change on election laws, Ivan Aralica of the HDZ said that there would be no restrictions with regard to election laws. Several times during the discussion it was assessed that the proposed constitutional changes marginalised the House of Counties. (hina) vm mm 021733 MET dec 97