ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - The presidents of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and the Liberal Party (LS) told journalists why they decided not to attend a meeting of the five-party ruling coalition which began at Weiss villa around 1.30
p.m. on Wednesday.
ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - The presidents of the Croatian People's
Party (HNS) and the Liberal Party (LS) told journalists why they
decided not to attend a meeting of the five-party ruling coalition
which began at Weiss villa around 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday. #L#
Vesna Pusic of the HNS said she did not go to the meeting because the
fate of the coalition was being debated only by the Croatian Peasant
Party (HSS) and the Social Democrats (SDP), which she said made the
coalition's talks pointless.
Ivo Banac of the LS said there were no representatives of his party
at the meeting because the invitation to attend had not been sent to
him, its president, but to vice president Zlatko Kramaric, contrary
to procedure.
"To demonstrate my dissatisfaction with such a course of action I
decided no LS representative would attend the meeting," Banac said
by telephone from the United States. He also complained about the
HSS and the SDP holding separate talks.
Pusic said her party's non-attendance today did not mean any
drastic steps.
"Our political position hasn't changed. We shall continue to vote
with the coalition's parties, be part of the government and the
parliamentary majority, and nothing of this has been brought into
question. However, as the president of a party I find it pointless
to sit at meetings at which decisions are not made, as they are
obviously made at bilateral meetings."
Asked what date the HNS thought was the best for the next
parliamentary election, Pusic said July could be the earliest and
most rational possible date. However, she added, the wisest choice
would be to hold them in October.
(hina) ha sb