CRO 'OPPOSITION SIX' LEADERS' VISIT TO BRUSSELS AGAIN POSTPONED

ZAGREB, March 19 (Hina) - The tour of leaders of the six Croatian opposition parties to Brussels has again been postponed, but this time the reason for the delay is a situation in the wake of the recent resignation en masse of all 20 members of the European Commission. Representatives of the Opposition Six said their visit to the European Union (EU), its executive body, the European Commission, and to NATO had not been cancelled but postponed by agreement until things about resignations and the appointment of new European Commission members become clear. The Opposition Six claimed that the postponement had been agreed upon by the opposition parties and in agreement with Per Vinther, a special envoy of the European Commission to Croatia. Vinther and the Opposition Six leaders held talks on Friday. As the both sides wish the success of their talks, it has been agreed that the visit should be conducted in circumstances which will guarantee it (the success), and this will be after settling the situation in the European Commission, said Ivica Racan, the president of the Social and Democratic Party (SDP) in response to a journalist's question. All 20 Commissioners unanimously decided on March 16 to offer resignation following a report made by independent experts on cases of mismanagement in the Commission. Germany, which is currently chairing EU, on Thursday called all EU member-states to urgently discuss a new composition of the European Commission in order to ensure the successful outcome of the EU summit in Berlin scheduled for next week. In the next week, as of 24 to 28 March, the Opposition Six leaders were due to visit Brussels. The tour of Croatian opposition parties' leaders has already been postponed twice due to the busy schedule of the EC Commissioner for foreign affairs, Hans Van Der Broek. (hina) ms