SPECIAL US ENVOY GELBARD, OPPOSITION SIX REPS HOLD TALKS

ZAGREB, March 12 (Hina) - The special US envoy for the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement, Robert Gelbard, and representatives of six Croatian Opposition parties, known as the "Opposition Six", met for talks in Zagreb on Friday. Attending the meeting were representatives of all six parties: Drazen Budisa (Croatian Social-Liberal Party, HSLS), Ivica Racan (Social-Democratic Party, SDP), Zlatko Tomcic (Croatian Peasants' Party, HSS), Ivan Jakovcic (Istrian Democratic Assembly, IDS), Radimir Cacic (Croatian People's Party, HNS), and Zlatko Kramaric (Liberal Party, LS). The talks focused mostly on the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and to a smaller part on the situation in Croatia. "Ambassador Gelbard has given us his opinion of events in Bosnia- Herzegovina", SDP leader Racan said after the talks, adding "we have to be aware that neither he nor his country will leave this region or Bosnia-Herzegovina soon". "The Americans are once more demonstrating their determination to preserve Bosnia- Herzegovina's integrity" which can be seen in their comments on the decision on Brcko and the replacement of Republika Srpska President Nikola Poplasen, Racan said. "Ambassador Gelbard has conveyed to us the basic views presented at the talks with President Tudjman and Foreign Minister Mate Granic, primarily as regards the election law", said Radimir Cacic of the HNS. He added that the economic crisis had been discussed as well. "We (the Opposition Six) have initiated the question of better communication and possible support for the possible option of a new government in Croatia, because we expect that the situation will be more than critical", Cacic said. After the talks, Gelbard left Croatia. (hina) rml