PARLIAMENT ENDORSES CONSTITUTIONAL BILL ON MINORITIES' RIGHTS

ZAGREB, Dec 12 (Hina) - Even though MPs suggested many amendments to a constitutional bill on national minorities' rights, all parliamentary benches, with the exception of the Croatian Party of Rights/Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HSP/HKDU) and the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), on Thursday supported the bill, stating it properly regulates the rights and liberties of minorities and nurtures ethnic and multicultural diversity. #L# The majority of amendments expressed dissatisfaction with provisions regulating the establishment of minority self- government, particularly its authorities, and provisions on the election of minority representatives to local government units' executive bodies. According to the bill, they would be elected on the basis of general voting rights and if they do not achieve proper representation, then they would be given the opportunity for their election to be regulated by the election law. During the discussion, an agreement was supported that was achieved by benches during the day relating to the election of minority MPs to parliament. It was agreed that minorities elect their MPs not through party listings, and that they be guaranteed at least five seats in parliament and no more than eight. Minorities that make up more than 1.5 per cent of the population (the Serb community only) would have at one to three MPs, while minorities who are smaller would have at least four MPs. Luka Trconic of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) said that there would be eight minority MPs - three Serbs, and one each for the Muslim, Italian, Czech and Slovak, and Hungarian communities, and one MP for the remaining minorities. Even though he partially supported the bill, Ivic Pasalic of the Croatian Bloc (HB) opposed the idea that minorities be ensured representatives in local bodies of the executive authority regardless of election results, considering that this would discriminate against the majority Croatian population. Vladimir Seks of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), too, opposed relative representation for minority representatives in local self-government units, stating that the institute of minority self-government, as proposed, cannot exist. The bill represents an important step, Seks believes, because it will denounce unfounded objections by some international factors that, as he said, have delayed Croatia's access to Euro-Atlantic institutions because of their own prejudices while they themselves "are horrified by the thought of applying even part of the protection of minority rights which Croatia is already implementing". Mato Arlovic of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) stressed that Croatia was adopting the law for its own sake and not the international community's. He noted that an important issue to realise minority rights lay not in political issues but legal, or rather, that this was a question of interest and finances. Arlovic pointed out that there was not sufficient funds to ensure a perfect solution. The majority of MPs expressed their expectations that the new constitutional law will contribute to democratic and tolerant methods of resolving minority issues. The HSP/HKDU bench did not support the bill and expressed its reservation towards it because, as Anto Djapic said, it satisfied the desires of some minorities while not doing so for the majority Croatian population. IDS' Damir Kajin asked that minorities be allowed double voting rights but the proposal was not supported. It appears this is the main reason why the IDS did not endorse the bill. Parliament will vote on the bill on Friday. The bill requires a two- third majority or 101 votes to pass. (hina) sp/ha sb