ZAGREB, May 5 (Hina)- The heads of six Croatian Opposition parties met Wednesday afternoon at the headquarters of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) in Zagreb to discuss the situation following their talks with President Franjo
Tudjman on an election law model. After the meeting, HSS president Zlatko Tomcic spoke to journalists on behalf of the "Opposition Six", stating they were not satisfied with the development of negotiations and interpretations of particular items discussed. "We cannot allow that matters be interpreted in different ways and we would like to know what the Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) true stance is. We further believe that a consensus on the election law is necessary in the interest of democracy in Croatia and for the sake of international community, even though this is not our primary objective", Tomcic said. According to the HSS president, "the HDZ, in its statements to the pre
ZAGREB, May 5 (Hina)- The heads of six Croatian Opposition parties
met Wednesday afternoon at the headquarters of the Croatian
Peasants' Party (HSS) in Zagreb to discuss the situation following
their talks with President Franjo Tudjman on an election law
model.
After the meeting, HSS president Zlatko Tomcic spoke to journalists
on behalf of the "Opposition Six", stating they were not satisfied
with the development of negotiations and interpretations of
particular items discussed.
"We cannot allow that matters be interpreted in different ways and
we would like to know what the Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ)
true stance is. We further believe that a consensus on the election
law is necessary in the interest of democracy in Croatia and for the
sake of international community, even though this is not our
primary objective", Tomcic said.
According to the HSS president, "the HDZ, in its statements to the
press, and even at today's meeting with President Tudjman, is
attempting to make relative certain agreements". According to
Tomcic "it was clearly stated that the issue at stake was not an
agreement but rather just a discussion", and negotiations should be
continued in the Croatian National Sabor.
"Keeping in mind that the steps being taken by the HDZ are not proper
and our proposals are more than clear, we expect the HDZ to give us
its opinion on our proposals in writing. We will submit our stance
in writing to the HDZ party bench leader Vladimir Seks", Tomcic
said.
Tomcic reminded that negotiations held with President Tudjman -
involving Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Ivica Racan,
Croatian Social Liberal Party's (HSLS) Drazen Budisa and himself as
president of the HSS - mostly revolved around the representation of
the Diaspora in the Sabor.
The Opposition agreed to a decrease in the number of MP's
representing Croatian citizens not residing in the country, to six
or seven, and to the clear proportional system with one electoral
unit. This proposal was repeated in discussions with Budisa and
Racan, said Tomcic.
Even before the opposition leaders were invited to speak with
President Tudjman, the "Opposition Six" very clearly stated that in
the aim of reaching a consensus, it was prepared to certain
compromises to its concept of the election law, he said.
This primarily relates to refraining from a combined election
system under the condition that we reach a consensus regarding
representation for Croat citizens not residing in the country; to
control mechanisms; media coverage of the elections; financing
election campaigns and other issues.
The afternoon session involved SDP president Ivica Racan, HSLS's
Drazen Budisa, HSS's Zlatko Tomcic, Liberal Party's (LS) Vlado
Gotovac and deputy president of the Croatian People's Party (HNS)
Vesna Pusic. The meeting was not attended by the Istrian Democratic
Assembly's (IDS) president Ivan Jakovcic, who is currently
visiting the United States. However, Jakovcic agreed that the
meeting be held without the presence of his party's
representative.
(hina) sp/rml