VLADIMIR SEKS ON COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S ADMISSION CRITERIA LIST

ZAGREB, March 16 (Hina) - Croatian Parliament Deputy Chairman Vladimir Seks spoke about a list of admission criteria Croatia received from the Council of Europe. Croatia's admission to the Council of Europe had already been discussed by the Croatian Parliament Foreign AffairS Committee as well as by the Parliament Chairman and heads of parliamentary benches, Seks said in last night's late news broadcast 'Slikom na sliku'. A session of the Council of Europe Political Committee would be held on 19 March, Seks said. The Political Committee had sent to Croatia a 21-item list which should be signed by the Croatian President and the Parliament Chairman. The list contained Croatia's obligations which the Parliament, the Government and the President had already submitted to the Council of Europe in form of various resolutions and documents. The Croatian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee and heads of all parliamentary committees and benches had already accepted those obligations, Seks said. The Parliament proposed that the Parliament Chairman sign a 'statement on Croatia's intentions to fulfill the obligations'. The Council of Europe's list of admission criteria was signed yesterday by the Croatian President and the Parliament Chairman. Asked whether the list contained any items which Croatian authorities had changed with or without consultation with the Council of Europe, Seks said that 'the Council of Europe sent a request that the President of the Republic revoke the veto on the election of Zagreb Mayor. However, this item was later changed because the Council of Europe had realized that their request opposes the Croatian legislation and that the Croatian President does not have the right to veto election of the city mayor but that he has the right to confirm or not to confirm his election'. In consultation with the Council of Europe, the item had been changed and Croatia accepted to carry on with the Zagreb Mayor election procedure in line with the Constitution and Croatian laws, taking into account advice from the Council of Europe, Seks said. (hina) rm 161219 MET mar 96