ZAGREB, April 2 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Friday dismissed the Croatian Peasant Party's (HSS) evaluation that the expansion of the European Union to 10 new countries would increase import quotas, saying that the HSS had
stated a series of untruths in its interpellation about the government's work on Protocol VII.
ZAGREB, April 2 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Friday dismissed
the Croatian Peasant Party's (HSS) evaluation that the expansion of
the European Union to 10 new countries would increase import quotas,
saying that the HSS had stated a series of untruths in its
interpellation about the government's work on Protocol VII.#L#
The quotas will not be higher, Sanader said in parliament, adding that
the government's main objective was to ensure that the quotas be added
up between current and new EU members and that they even be reduced.
Negotiations on Protocol VII are progressing favourably for Croatia
and are absolutely legitimate, Sanader said, rejecting the HSS' claims
that the government was conducting negotiations on the document, which
should regulate import quotas for agricultural products from the
Union's 10 new members, in secrecy and unlawfully.
The PM dismissed as untrue the HSS' claims that the negotiations
should be based on the law on the implementation of the Stabilisation
and Association Agreement (SAA) signed with the EU. The law relevant
for these negotiations is the one on the signing of international
agreements, based on which the previous government decided to enter
negotiations with the EU, he said.
Sanader was very critical of the interpellation the HSS moved about
the government's work on Protocol VII. "If we weren't a serious
government, which we are, we would return (the interpellation) with
the explanation that it is replete with untruths and lies."
He also dismissed the HSS' position that the government should have
waited for parliament's decision before starting the negotiations,
recalling that the last government, of which the HSS was part, decided
to sign an additional protocol within the SAA without the prior
opinion of parliament.
Commenting on claims that his cabinet had conducted negotiations on
Protocol VII at the Stabilisation Council twice, he said they were
false. "That body hasn't even been founded. The government is
negotiating directly with the European Commission based on the
(previous government's) decision."
Sanader added his government was willing to send Protocol VII to
parliament for ratification despite the previous government's decision
that the protocol was not subject to parliamentary approval.
HSS leader Zlatko Tomcic said in parliament earlier today that the
EU's initial demands in the negotiations on the protocol potentially
endangered Croatian farmers and agriculture.
Former Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic, also of the HSS, said
the protocol, once signed, would deal a blow to Croatian agriculture,
notably food-processing.
The HSS deputies said nothing bound Croatia to sign the protocol by
May 1, and that the interpellation they requested was aimed at
strengthening the position of Croatian negotiators.
During the interpellation procedure the government explains its
conduct to parliament. If the majority of MPs evaluate the conduct
negatively, by vote, this raises the question of confidence in the
government.
(Hina) ha