SDP and HSS Responded to Green Forum Initiative

23 November 2007

Only SDP and HSS responded to the initiative presented by Zelena Akcija to present their views on the Green Declaration, sent to all political parties represented in the Croatian Sabor (the Parliament) on November 12, on behalf of the Green Forum, national network of 37 environmental associations.

The political parties were given an eight day deadline to present their opinions, in order to prevent, says Zelena Akcija (Green Action), a situation in which political parties will reconsider their responses and would base them, instead, on the already existing political campaign platforms, adopted at party levels.

Zelena akcija finds that result defeating and a good indicator of political parties` dedication to environmental issues both in election campaign, but also in their activities in the Sabor.

SDP and HSS, in fact, gave their declarative support to all demands presented by the Green Forum, and in particular the main underlying note of the Declaration � prohibition of privatization of natural resources and communal services.

- Also, both parties support the demand to strengthen the Ministry of Environmental Protection and to separate it from the construction portfolio, having in mind that environmental protection and construction ofter have quite opposed and conflicting interests, says Zelena Akcija.

The Green Declaration of the Green Forum is a document that presents the joint positions of all 37 organizations in the network, in individual environmental issues. It also presents a number of requirements that political parties should meet before the coming Elections.

The Green Declaration was first presented by the Forum during the 2000 Parliamentary Elections. Its aim is not to suggest to the voters how to cast their votes, but to test the views of major political parties and to hold them responsible for the implementation of their campaign platforms if, indeed, they get into a position to participate in the Government.