ABANDONING PROTEST RALLIES WOULD BE WELCOME - HDZ SPOKESMAN

ZAGREB, March 12 (Hina) - The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) holds that not only would postponed, but aborted protest rallies of solidarity organised by the six opposition parties known as "Opposition Six", be a contribution to diminishing the antagonising situation in Croatia. "We are prepared to sit down with opposition leaders and begin constructive talks about solving problems," HDZ spokesman Ivica Ropus told Friday's news conference. He added it was not clear why the Opposition Six had postponed the first solidarity rally announced in Karlovac for the end of March, seen as different party leaders gave different reasons. Ropus applauded announced talks of Ivica Racan and Drazen Budisa, the presidents of Croatia's two biggest opposition parties, with the Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ante Jelavic. "I think these talks are welcome, and I believe the initiative rose form the Opposition, as its leaders wished to soften standpoints regarding a third entity in Bosnia," Ropus said. He reiterated the HDZ's view that, despite all the omissions in the Dayton and Washington agreements, there is no need for a revision of these agreements at this time, because in that case the Croats would end up with the shorter end of the stick, as the least numbered people in the country. Speaking about the upcoming elections, Ropus expressed conviction that the electoral threshold would not change, remaining five for one party, eight for a coalition of two parties, and eleven per cent for three or more parties for elections into the Parliament. He estimated the Opposition Six would participate in the elections in one of two ways: one part of the parties (Social Democratic Party, Croatian Social Liberal Party, and the Peasants' Party) that hold they are strong enough, would enter the elections independently, while the other part (the Liberal Party, Croatian People's Party and the Istrian Democratic Party) would enter the elections in a coalition or possibly as one party, in an attempt to pass the threshold. (hina) lml