CROATIAN PARLIAMENT DEBATES LAW ON ASYLUM

ZAGREB, Sept 18 (Hina) - MPs and their benches on Wednesday supported a draft law on asylum, but stressed that financial possibilities should be harmonised with the wish to Croatia to be a democratic country. #L# It would not be good to pass such a law which could not be applied for lack of funds, MPs said. It is assessed that about 7.3 million kuna would be needed for the start of implementing the law. Deputy Interior Minister Josip Vresk could not say how much the entire implementation would cost, stating it was impossible to know how many people would seek asylum and how many requests would be authorised. According to the draft, the right to asylum in Croatia would be granted to those who were persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group or political opinions. MPs suggested that the list include persons persecuted for gender, and that the law include a provision by which asylum would not be granted to any person justifiably suspected of being connected with terrorism. Requests to asylum would be submitted with the police, and he Interior Ministry would decide on whether to grant it. Until a decision is reached, the people who submitted the request would be temporarily accommodated in a shelter. Asylum seekers would have the right to remain in Croatia until the completion of the decision on the right to asylum, they would enjoy the right to security of living and housing conditions, the right to health care, financial, legal and humanitarian assistance. The parliament also discussed draft laws on humanitarian assistance and the authority of the government to regulate with decrees certain issues in the jurisdiction of the parliament, and the execution of a programme of statistical research for last year. The parliament ended today's work. MPs will continue the 25th session on Thursday when they will vote on discussed subjects. (hina) lml