HDZ YOUTH: INTER-PARTY ELECTIONS AFTER GENERAL CONVENTION

ZAGREB, Jan 10 (Hina) - The majority stand of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) Youth is that inter-party elections should be held after the party's general convention, HDZ Youth president Krunoslav Gasparic said after a meeting with acting HDZ president Vladimir Seks on Monday. Gasparic added the HDZ Youth believed the HDZ Statute should be amended before inter-party elections are organised. Acting HDZ president Seks said this stand was another proof that "the new wave of democratisation has swept across the HDZ." Asked whether this also referred to today's decision on relieving Ivica Ropus of his duties as party spokesman, Seks said the party was "trying to introduce the principle of responsible democracy, meaning that those who violate the rules have to answer." According to Seks, the HDZ Presidency had decided that Ropus should refrain from making statements on behalf of the party, which Ropus disregarded. Seks confirmed that Ropus was no longer allowed to enter the HDZ main secretariat. HDZ secretary-general Drago Krpina described Ropus's statement of today as a "harsh and unprecedented attack by the party spokesman on the acting president." (hina) rml