CROATIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT PRESIDENT SWORN IN

ZAGREB, May 12 (Hina) - Milan Vukovic, the newly appointed President of the Croatian Constitutional Court, was formally sworn in at the Presidential Palace in Zagreb today, a Presidential Office statement said. The ceremony was attended by Parliament president Nedjeljko Mihanovic, House of Counties chairwoman Katica Ivanisevic and Constitutional Court members. President Franjo Tudjman congratulated Vukovic on the appointment and said that Vukovic returned to the highest body of the Croatian judiciary and Croatia's constitutional and legal system, whose effectivness depended not only on judges individually but also on the Constitutional Court as a whole. Tudjman stressed the need that, in line with the spirit of the Croatian Constitution and law, judges should contribute to the strengthening of the rule of law. The ceremony was also attended by Presidential Chief-of-Staff Hrvoje Sarinic, Deputy Prime Minister Nikica Valentic, Administration Minister Davor Mlakar, Deputy Justice Minister Miroslav Separovic, Presidential Advisers Smiljko Sokol and Ivic Pasalic, and many others, the statement said. (hina) jn rm vm 121558 MET may 95