ZAGREB, Oct 17 (Hina) - The Social Democratic Party (SDP) believes that by withdrawing from parliamentary procedure its draft on changes to the Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for former
Yugoslavia (ICTY) the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has made a tactical move so that later it could try to win the support of other opposition parties and re-introduce the draft into parliament.
ZAGREB, Oct 17 (Hina) - The Social Democratic Party (SDP) believes
that by withdrawing from parliamentary procedure its draft on
changes to the Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the
International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) the
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has made a tactical move so that
later it could try to win the support of other opposition parties
and re-introduce the draft into parliament. #L#
SDP whip Mato Arlovic said the party's explanation of its
"political decision" to withdraw the draft showed that the HDZ had
some "ulterior motive" and was making steps that were not within
cooperation with the tribunal.
The SDP believes that changes to the Constitutional Law on
Cooperation with the ICTY are possible, however, not as a
unilateral act, but as part of the UN Security Council Resolution,
the tribunal's statute and rules, the Constitutional Law on
Cooperation with the ICTY and the Croatian Constitution.
Arlovic said it was curious that changes to the law were being
proposed at a time when the government was using the law in the legal
dispute with the tribunal, i.e. exercising its right to protect its
national and its citizens' rights within cooperation with the
tribunal.
Arlovic believes that the decision of the British government to
suspend the process of ratification of the Stabilisation and
Association Agreement between Croatia and the European Union was
"an unprecedented attempt to punish someone who is exercising his
rights within the framework of cooperation with the ICTY", the more
so because the ICTY formed a council of appeals on the basis of
Croatia's objections to its indictment against General Janko
Bobetko.
The SDP supports the government's efforts to establish individual
responsibility for war crimes committed during the Homeland War.
"We cannot accept acts which lead to the establishment of
collective responsibility and bring into question the legitimate
actions in the Homeland War, and prevent Croatian citizens from
defending their freedom," he said.
SDP's Zdravko Tomac believes, too, that Croatia cannot accept
collective responsibility. He believes that all parties should
reach a consensus on the issue.
(hina) rml sb