'OPPOSITION SIX' DISSATISFIED WITH PRESIDENT TUDJMAN'S ADDRESS

ZAGREB, Jan 22 (Hina) - Six opposition parties, known as the "Opposition Six", deem the address of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on the state of the nation a possible announcement of a negative reply of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) to the opposition's requests regarding the establishment of a commission of inquiry to probe into the abuse of intelligence services and the change in electoral laws. Presidents of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), Liberal Party (LS) and Croatian People's Party (HNS) in separate phone conversations for Hina commented on Tudjman's assessment that intelligence and contra- intelligence services had last year performed their tasks successfully. They also commented on his claim that some influential European and American circles wished to use changes in the electoral laws fir reviving the former Yugoslavia, but without Slovenia and including Albania. Ivica Racan of the SDP said the abuse of intelligence services was "obvious". The second statement was for Racan "one of the most contentious and unacceptable" statements in the address. He said Tudjman interpreted all criticisms from Europe and America as pressures on Croatia aimed at her joining Balkan or new-Yugoslav associations. Racan described as "scandalous" Tudjman's placing the Opposition Six's request for a change in electoral laws in this context. Drazen Budisa of the HSLS said "the problem is that intelligence services also performed some other tasks, which are not their basic tasks and are not stipulated by law". Budisa stressed there is no danger of a change in authority in Croatia yielding forces which would advocate south European integration. HSS president Zlatko Tomcic held that Tudjman had "obviously avoided speaking in more detail about accumulated problems in the work of intelligence services". He said Tudjman had diverted attention to the alleged efforts of anonymous world powers to force Croatia into Balkan associations, in order to conceal that he did not wish to initiate democratic processes, particularly in the sphere of electoral legislation. Vladimir Gotovac, LS, said both Tudjman's stances "in a very crude and inflexible manner confirmed HDZ's policy, to proclaim initiatives of all others as hostile towards Croatia. We, of course, refuse that by every means". Ivan Jakovcic of the IDS held that Tudjman's statements were no contribution to reaching an agreement between the HDZ and the Opposition. "In fact, they are proof that the HDZ wished no agreement," he said. Jakovcic described as "frivolous" Tudjman's thesis that someone is trying to force Croatia into Yugoslav integration, all this aided by changes to electoral laws. HNS's Radimir Cacic is convinced the assessment on the success of the work of intelligence services was "in line with the grotesque". "To insinuate that a change in authority in Croatia would provide the possibility of Yugoslav-Balkan integrations is in itself a grotesque," Cacic stressed. (hina) lml mm