LOWER HOUSE DEBATES CHANGES TO LAW ON COUNTY & TOWN TERRITORY

( Editorial: --> 8625 ) ZAGREB, April 22 (Hina) - Changes and amendments to the law on county, town and municipality territories sent to the Croatian National Parliament for urgent procedure aroused a controversial debate at Wednesday's House of Representatives session. According to the proposed changes and amendments, the eastern Croatian municipalities of Jagodnjak and Sodolovci should be part of Osijek-Baranja County, and the municipalities of Negoslavci and Markusica of Vukovar-Srijem County. Representatives of the Croatian Pure Party of Rights and the Croatian Party of Rights rejected the proposed changes. They believe the said municipalities were not established under the parliament's wish and decision, but under international pressure. These four municipalities were established by former UN Transitional Administrator for eastern Croatia Jacques Klein in April 1997, they said. The formation of the municipalities in question was not the result of international or General Klein's pressure, said Vladimir Seks of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union. Croatia's state authority suggested their establishment in talks with and writing to Klein, Seks explained. Milorad Pupovac of the Independent Serb Democratic Party believes there is no point in making an issue out of four municipalities where Serbs are the majority, considering that there are about 420 municipalities and more than 100 towns in Croatia. No one imposed the decision on establishing the four municipalities on members of the parliament or government, their formation was the result of talks, he concluded. (hina) ha jn/mb 221420 MET apr 98