TWO CROATIAN PARLIAMENTARY PARTIES OPPOSE NATO REQUEST

ZAGREB, April 30 (Hina) - The Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) and the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) on Friday used a parliamentary debate on the participation of Croatian troops in a UN peacekeeping mission in India and Pakistan to express their opposition to a NATO request that decisions on sending troops on peacekeeping missions be made without Parliament's approval but with the approval of the Government only.#L# IDS deputy Damir Kajin said that agreement to that request would mean "unnecessary destruction of civilised principles" and expressed support for the present system of decision making as regulated by the Constitution, under which sending troops and extending their service in peacekeeping missions can only be decided by Parliament by a two-thirds majority. Kajin warned that acceptance of the NATO request might lead to the possibility of Croatian troops participating in the war in Iraq, which he found unacceptable. The NATO request, which was expressed at a recent summit, was also opposed by Tonci Tadic of the HSP, who said that it would be against the Constitution. On behalf of his party, Tadic denied support for the decision to send Croatian troops to the UN mission in India and Pakistan, adding that the decision had been reached too soon and without risk analysis. Kresimir Cosic of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said that risks were part of military service and that participation in peacekeeping missions was Croatia's international obligation. Under the proposed decision, two Croatian officers are to join the UN mission early next month and are to be joined by another two later this year. (Hina) vm sb