ZAGREB, Sept 2 (Hina) - Democratic Centre (DC) vice president Vesna Skare Ozbolt said on Monday her party demanded that Prime Minister Ivica Racan, before meeting his Slovene counterpart Janez Drnovsek, conduct broad political
consultations, not only with representatives of the ruling coalition but the Opposition too, and reach political consensus for the talks with Slovene partners.
ZAGREB, Sept 2 (Hina) - Democratic Centre (DC) vice president Vesna
Skare Ozbolt said on Monday her party demanded that Prime Minister
Ivica Racan, before meeting his Slovene counterpart Janez
Drnovsek, conduct broad political consultations, not only with
representatives of the ruling coalition but the Opposition too, and
reach political consensus for the talks with Slovene partners. #L#
The Racan-Drnovsek meeting should not take place without political
consensus and a clear note on backing out of an initialled border
agreement, Skare Ozbolt said at a press conference.
A session of the parliamentary foreign affairs' committee, at which
the platform for new talks with Slovenia would be defined, should
also be held, she said. In her opinion, personnel changes within the
border commission should also be conducted.
Skare Ozbolt said her party would continue to collect signatures
for a petition for the initialled border agreement to be dismissed.
According to her, this will last until the Croatian government
officially informs Slovenia of its decision on withdrawing from the
agreement.
Skare Ozbolt said that over 35,000 citizens had signed the DC's
petition.
Asked to comment on a protest Slovene intellectuals and artists
intended to stage outside the house of Josko Joras last Saturday,
Skare Ozbolt said this was "pouring oil on the fire".
Joras, a Slovene citizen residing in Croatia, was recently arrested
by Croatian authorities because he does not recognise Croatia's
sovereignty.
In her opinion, the prime minister is adept at using the crisis in
relations with Slovenia for internal policy purposes. "Owing" to
the crisis, increases in prices and the declining standard of
living have passed without serious consequences for the
government, she said.
The DC warns that no serious progress has been made in the
intelligence community. The party calls upon the head of state, the
prime minister and the competent parliamentary committee to start
defining the situation in the intelligence community, appoint new
heads and start taking care of national security and goals through
the National Security Council.
(hina) it sb