ZAGREB SUMMIT DAY INVITES VARYING REACTIONS ZAGREB, Nov 22 (Hina) - The decision of the parliament's House of Counties' speaker Katica Ivanisevic for convening on November 24, the day of the Zagreb Summit, has given rise to various
reactions by Parliament and Government officials. The opposition's Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party has a majority in the Upper House. Parliament speaker Zlatko Tomcic deems such an act counter-productive, while Prime Minister Ivica Racan holds the session should be held after the Summit. Katica Ivanisevic said Wednesday she had called for the session in line with the Rule Book. "According to the Rule Book, one fifth MPs can request an urgent session, which they have done," Ivanisevic asserted. The House of Counties will only discuss one item -- the holding, goals and intentions of the international conference in Zagreb. Ivanisevic said MPs (some 15 of them from the lines of the HDZ) had explained their req
ZAGREB, Nov 22 (Hina) - The decision of the parliament's House of
Counties' speaker Katica Ivanisevic for convening on November 24,
the day of the Zagreb Summit, has given rise to various reactions by
Parliament and Government officials.
The opposition's Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party has a
majority in the Upper House.
Parliament speaker Zlatko Tomcic deems such an act counter-
productive, while Prime Minister Ivica Racan holds the session
should be held after the Summit.
Katica Ivanisevic said Wednesday she had called for the session in
line with the Rule Book.
"According to the Rule Book, one fifth MPs can request an urgent
session, which they have done," Ivanisevic asserted.
The House of Counties will only discuss one item -- the holding,
goals and intentions of the international conference in Zagreb.
Ivanisevic said MPs (some 15 of them from the lines of the HDZ) had
explained their request by saying that the parliament was obliged
to discuss the goals and intentions of policies before they are
implemented by the executive authority or before the signing of any
document.
Croatian Parliament speaker Zlatko Tomcic does not undermine the
right and autonomy of the Upper House, but he sees the session as
"HDZ meddling".
Announcements by the HDZ Presidency, various associations and
unions that they would hold protest rallies on the day of the Summit
reflect a coordinated and utterly obstructing action which is
primarily coming from the ranks of the HDZ, Tomcic asserted.
He sees the Upper House session as an attempt to exert pressure on
the current government authority and circumstances of the holding
of the Summit.
I think this is counter-productive, especially the HDZ, he
stressed.
Prime Minister Racan asserted those without good will towards the
Summit have a democratic right to express their opinion.
He held it would have been better if Ivanisevic had, if she had
wished to do something, called the session after the Summit, when
its results would be known.
The decision on the convening of the Upper House was supported by
members of the Croatian Party of Rights. Miroslav Rozic held it
impermissible that discussion about the Summit had not been held in
the Parliament. Such a discussion would have defined a programme
which would be used as a foundation for negotiations on Croatia's
fate and integration.
The Democratic Centre did not endorse the calling of the session.
The convening of the House of Counties on the day of the Summit will
not assist Croatia in its individual approach to the EU, nor in the
protection of its national interests, Mate Granic asserted.
(hina) lml