PRESIDENT TUDJMAN INVITES THREE OPPOSITION LEADERS FOR TALKS

ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - An official of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) on Monday confirmed that the presidents of three opposition parties had been invited for talks on Tuesday with President Franjo Tudjman in his function as President of the Republic. HDZ parliamentary bench president Vladimir Seks said Tudjman invited Drazen Budisa of the Croatian Social Liberal Party, Zlatko Tomcic of the Croatian Peasants' Party, and Ivica Racan of the Social Democratic Party. Seks was unable to say whether the three opposition presidents would accept the invitation, but reminded that Tudjman earlier on announced he would meet presidents of some political parties in his function as President of the Republic. Seks said the Tuesday talks would tackle major political issues. According to unofficial reports from parliament, the first to hold separate talks with Tudjman should be Budisa, followed by Tomcic, and Racan. Unofficial sources also say the invitation for talks was not forwarded to the presidents of the remaining three parties making up the Opposition Six: Vlado Gotovac of the Liberal Party, Radimir Cacic of the Croatian People's Party, and Ivan Jakovcic of the Istrian Democratic Assembly. (hina) ha mm