ZAGREB, July 13 (Hina) - Croatia's parliament on Friday evening did not manage to decide on models for the discussion on relations between Croatia and the UN war crimes court, owing to a lack of quorum.
ZAGREB, July 13 (Hina) - Croatia's parliament on Friday evening did
not manage to decide on models for the discussion on relations
between Croatia and the UN war crimes court, owing to a lack of
quorum.#L#
It will be decided on Sunday, when the Sabor resumes the session,
whether the issue about the cooperation with the Tribunal should be
discussed, according to a proposal of MPs from the ruling
coalition, together with a debate on the motion for the confidence
vote in the government, set for that day as well, or the two topics
should be considered separately on which the strongest opposition
party HDZ insist.
On Friday evening the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) bench
persisted in the demand that the two topics be separately debated,
as it asserted that its motion for the discussion on the relations
between Zagreb and the Tribunal was broader than the motion for the
confidence vote.
HDZ President Ivo Sanader said the separate discussions would make
it possible for MPs "to enter the merit of the thing."
We (HDZ) are for consensus and we would like to help the incumbent
Government which has a difficult task in the cooperation with the
Tribunal. The historical truth, however, must be defended in the
Sabor and not, what Premier Ivica Racan said, in The Hague, Sanader
added.
Another MP from the HDZ, Ivic Pasalic, said he was ashamed that the
history would record that he had a seat in the composition of the
parliament which allowed the criminalisation of the Homeland War
and whose members knew about the issues less than editors-in-
chief.
During the sitting, HDZ representatives reiterated the demands of
its party and criticised the absence of major members of the
Government at the session.
Sabor Speaker Zlatko Tomcic tried to hurry up the debate in order to
reach the voting. Responding to statements of HDZ representatives
that General Rahim Ademi today received an indictment, Tomcic said
it was not true, adding that then indictment would be served to the
general in The Hague.
On behalf of the bench of two opposition right-wing parties
HSP/HKDU, Anto Djapic said it was wrong that the scheduled
discussion was not held today. The Croatian Party of Right (HSP)
leader maintains that it would be too late for the debate on the
relation with the Tribunal on Sunday given that "the government has
today made some moves the legitimacy of which is questionable."
The parliamentary debate on the relations with the Tribunal began
behind the closed doors, as it was previously announced, but in the
course of the day, it was open for the public.
Sabor Speaker Zlatko Tomcic said the decision on holding an open
session was made as to demystify what was going on in the parliament
hall. Thus, reporters could be present at its continuation on
Friday evening. However, there was no live TV coverage.
Less than 10 representatives of the five ruling parties awaited the
end of today's session marked by many delays in its official start
and many breaks later on.
Considering the possibility that another long discussion is likely
to take place on Sunday, the government has asked the Sabor to hold
an extraordinary session on Monday and Tuesday.
Earlier this week the HDZ's proposal for a discussion on the
relations with the Tribunal was accepted, but it was then decided
that the debate should be held behind closed doors as it would deal
with two ICTY sealed indictments which must not be disclosed until
the possible transfer of persons named in them to The Hague.
(hina) ms