CROATIAN MPS DISCUSS CROATIA'S INTERNATIONAL POSITION

( Editorial: --> 7233 ) ZAGREB, April 16 (Hina) - Members of the Croatian House of Representatives on Thursday individually debated the topic "Croatia and International Policy", on the basis of a report on Croatia's international position submitted to parliament by Foreign Minister Mate Granic. Representatives of parliamentary parties presented their views concerning the pressures exerted on Croatia by the international community and conditions set before Croatia, including the need for reaching a consensus by parliamentary parties on foreign policy. Croatian Serb refugees have an unconditional right to return to Croatia, which should meet its international commitments, said Milan Djukic of the Serb People's Party (SNS). Djukic supported the unconditional return of both Croats (to the Croatian Danubian region) and Serbs (to Croatia). Claims that most Serbs do not want to return to Croatia, presented by Minister Granic in his introductory speech, were mystification, said Djukic. Djukic also resented that President Tudjman described Serb refugees as optants who chose another state. Croatia should fulfil the commitments it had taken over without making it conditional on a national interest. The national interest the Croatian state leadership was referring to was making "Croatia as pure as possible", Djukic said. Petar Zitnik of HSS resented that Granic failed to say who was responsible for international pressures against Croatia and its unfavourable international position. International pressures are caused by deficiencies of the state policy both on the external (as regards Bosnia-Herzegovina) and internal planes (undemocratic acts). Croatia should oppose all pressures and imposing of solutions which are contrary to Croatian state and national interests, said Ivan Gabelica of the Croatian Pure Party of Rights (HCSP). At the end of today's 30th session, Minister Granic concluded that "Croatia has one path, which is its integration into Europe as a strongly sovereign European state which will know how to protect its own interests and harmonise them with those of the international community". Describing the discussion as open and constructive, Granic thanked MPs for supporting his proposal on consensus concerning important strategic questions of the Croatian foreign policy. HDZ representatives supported Granic's report and called for a consensus on foreign policy, while some opposition representatives (Liberal Party, Croatian Social-Liberal Party) said consensus could not be reached if the opposition was not asked for an opinion in the drafting of foreign policy. Representatives of parliamentary parties should meet on Tuesday to adjust the text of a declaration on foreign policy. (hina) rm/mrb 162237 MET apr 98