LOWER HOUSE ENDS DEBATE ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

( Editorial: --> 7397 ) ZAGREB, Dec 10 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's House of Representatives on Wednesday ended an extensive debate on the Proposed Constitutional Law on Changes and Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia. The Proposed Constitutional Law received backing from the party benches of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP). However the proposal was opposed by MPs from the Croatian Social- Liberal Party (HSLS), the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) and the Action of Social Democrats of Croatia (ASH) as well as representatives of ethnic minorities. Vladimir Seks (HDZ) told parliament its Committee for the Constitution, Standing Orders and Political System presented the Proposed Constitutional Law on the basis and in the framework of the Draft Constitutional Law, which had been accepted by the House. The only change in the Proposed Constitutional Law accepted by the Committee were parts which spoke of basic rights and freedoms of people and citizens, where the term "every person" would be expanded into the term "every person and citizen". On behalf of the HDZ bench, Smiljko Sokol assessed that the proposal was of such character that it was possible to reach consensus among all parties and MPs. He announced a proposed amendment to the Preamble of the Constitution, on the initiative of numerous Homeland War defenders. The addition would read: "(With) the new Constitution of the Republic of Croatia from 1990 and victory in 1991 and 1995, the Croatian nation showed (its) determination and readiness for the restoration and preservation of Croatia as a self-governed, sovereign, independent, democratic state." Speaking on behalf of IDS MPs, Ivan Jakovcic took offence at why the proposed changes were not put before a referendum. Emphasising that the HSLS bench expected more substantial changes especially in regard to the position of the Croatian Parliament and the semi-presidential system, Drazen Budisa particularly opposed the changing of the parliament's name from the "Sabor" into the "Croatian State Sabor". Mato Arlovic, on behalf of the SDP bench, proposed that parliament carry the title "Croatian Sabor". Njegovan Starek, speaking for independent MPs representing national minorities, reported they had proposed an amendment in which the Preamble to the Constitution would continue to name and list national minorities. This amendment also was supported by Milorad Pupovac (ASH) who also believed that the naming of national minorities should remain in the Preamble. An amendment to the Preamble also was announced by Milan Dukic of the SNS (Serbian People's Party). He proposed Croatia be organised as a state of "the Croatian nation and a state belonging to ethnic communities, national minorities and others who are its citizens". (Hina) jn mb 102218 MET dec 97