LOWER HOUSE RATIFIES NORMALIZATION AGREEMENT, ADOPTS GENERAL AMNES

AMNES $ TY ACT ZAGREB, 20 Sept (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament House of Representatives on Friday ratified the Agreement on the Normalization of Relations between Croatia and Yugoslavia. The House of Representatives also adopted a law on temporary suspension of a U.N. Security Council Resolution on sanctions against Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). A law on general amnesty was also adopted today. The House of Representatives adopted with the majority of votes a conclusion on the adoption of a report on foreign policy, presented to the lower house by Foreign Minister Mate Granic. Parliament Chairman Vlatko Pavletic informed the MPs about the ongoing preparations for a resolution on the refusal of the extension of the current U.N. mandate in eastern Slavonia. The Agreement on the normalization of relations between Croatia and Yugoslavia was adopted with 73 votes in favour, five against and 18 abstentions. By the law, the two countries agreed to recognize and respect each other as independent, sovereign and equal states within their internationally recognized borders. The mutual recognition of the continuity of Croatia's and Yugoslavia's statehood also represents the recognition of legality of dissociation of the former state, which removes possible interpretations on Croatia's alleged secession from the former Yugoslavia. By the Agreement, the two countries pledged to solve without delay a very complex and important humanitarian question of missing and imprisoned persons. The General Amnesty Law, which was adopted by the majority vote, grants amnesty to the perpetrators of criminal acts committed during the aggression and armed conflicts in Croatia. An amendment to the Law, proposed by the government, also grants amnesty to those persons who have already been convicted for the crimes they committed. Pardon from legal prosecution and procedure, except in the case of war crimes, will be granted for criminal acts committed in the period between August 17, 1990 to August 23, 1996. The House of Representatives also adopted laws confirming the government agreements with Rumania, the Russian Federation and Slovakia on double taxation avoidance. The lower house also ratified an agreement on guarantees for a tourism credit line signed between Croatia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). (hina) rm jn 201811 MET sep 96