ZAGREB, May 26 (Hina) - Members of the "Opposition Six" held a working meeting at the Croatian Parliament building on Wednesday. One of the topics discussed at the meeting was an agreement reached yesterday by the Opposition Six and
the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) on the basic principles of electoral legislation. Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Ivica Racan said yesterday's agreement could not be judged negatively, but added the consensus which had been reached would be visible and definite only once the agreed principles of the electoral legislation had been implemented. Speaking about the Opposition's giving up one of its principles, regarding a separate electoral unit for the Diaspora, Racan said one had to give up something when trying to reach a consensus. We have given up one principle, but not our request. The agreement with the HDZ provides for the equality of the vote of Croatian
ZAGREB, May 26 (Hina) - Members of the "Opposition Six" held a
working meeting at the Croatian Parliament building on Wednesday.
One of the topics discussed at the meeting was an agreement reached
yesterday by the Opposition Six and the Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ) on the basic principles of electoral legislation.
Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Ivica Racan said
yesterday's agreement could not be judged negatively, but added the
consensus which had been reached would be visible and definite only
once the agreed principles of the electoral legislation had been
implemented.
Speaking about the Opposition's giving up one of its principles,
regarding a separate electoral unit for the Diaspora, Racan said
one had to give up something when trying to reach a consensus.
We have given up one principle, but not our request. The agreement
with the HDZ provides for the equality of the vote of Croatian
citizens living outside of Croatia to that of citizens with
permanent residence in Croatia, he said.
Asked whether planned changes to the Law on Croatian Radio-
Television (HRT) would secure HRT's transformation into a public
and democratic medium, Racan said the agreement on the HRT was
binding for both the HDZ and the Opposition.
To what extent the HRT will really be a public medium depends only
partly on the law, partly on the relationship of the ruling party
towards television, but also on journalists themselves, he added.
Despite yesterday's agreement, the Opposition Six has still not
taken a stand on returning to parliamentary committees.
We will see how things develop regarding the election law, and will
adopt a stand on that issue timely, Racan said.
Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) president Zlatko Tomcic said the
resignations of Opposition representatives from parliamentary
committees were not connected with the election law.
Citizens expect us to be credible, meaning if we agree on something,
we should do it as well, Racan said when asked if planned activities
- the debate on the election law and the law on electoral units, and
changes to the HRT - would be completed by summer.
We should be able to complete these activities before the summer
break, Racan said. If we fail to do so by autumn, then I don't have to
say that there will be no consensus, he added.
(hina) rml