ZAGREB, Dec 5 (Hina) - The outgoing prime minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ivica Racan, received Party of Rights (HSP) leader Anto Djapic at the government headquarters in Zagreb on Friday.
ZAGREB, Dec 5 (Hina) - The outgoing prime minister and leader of the
Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ivica Racan, received Party of
Rights (HSP) leader Anto Djapic at the government headquarters in
Zagreb on Friday. #L#
Djapic told reporters after an hour and a half of talks that they had
discussed cooperation as two opposition parties in the new
parliament, and that the likelihood of the HSP entering the
government led by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) was minimal.
Djapic said he won the support of the SDP for a bill proposed by his
party on the transfer of power, and added that the two parties would
urge establishment of a parliamentary ethic commission to oversee
the implementation of the law on conflict of interest.
As regards future cooperation in parliament between the two
parties, Djapic said that "regardless of political differences,
consultations with the SDP on cooperation in the Sabor will be
necessary."
Djapic said that "the likelihood of the HSP remaining in opposition
is 99 per cent."
Commenting on a statement by HDZ leader Ivo Sanader, that he
supported negotiations on the HSP entering a majority coalition in
parliament, but not the government, Djapic said that would be "a
strange symbiosis" and "nothing will come of it".
He added that the HSP was open to talks with all parliamentary
parties, but that its talks with the HDZ would primarily focus on
the political platform of the HSP and that a coalition between the
two parties was "a secondary issue".
Djapic said that he and Racan also talked about the opposition of EU
ambassadors to the HSP participating in the new government.
The HSP has criticised the SDP and other parties in the present
government coalition for failing to respond to such statements,
which its officials said was in violation of the Constitution.
Djapic announced the HSP would launch "a diplomatic offensive" to
ensure that EU countries gained a clear picture of the party.
He added that "there are indications that some EU members might
agree to the HSP participating in the government," but would not
specify which countries.
The government's public relations office said that Racan would not
make a statement after the talks with the HSP leader.
(hina) vm sb