OPPOSITION SIX DEMANDS WRITTEN HDZ STATEMENT ON ELECTORAL LAW

ZAGREB, June 24 (Hina) - Croatia's Opposition Six on Thursday demanded that the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)issue a written statement regarding the opposition group's suggestions in negotiations on a new electoral legislation package. The Opposition Six also believes the public statements on the opposition's suggestions made by HDZ vice presidents Mate Granic and Vladimir Seks are contradictory. "We expect the HDZ to issue a written statement on our suggestions, because the statements coming from that party are contradictory," Radimir Cacic, coordinator of the Opposition Six, told reporters in Zagreb. "Talks may then be resumed," he added. Cacic said Foreign Minister Granic was telling the international public Croatia's ruling party and the opposition had reached an agreement on new electoral legislation, while simultaneously Seks was rejecting the opposition's suggestions, saying they represented an ultimatum. "Seks' rhetoric does not contribute to the creation of conditions for fair elections," Cacic said on behalf of the Opposition Six. He stressed there was nothing contentious in the opposition's suggestions, adding most are already contained in an agreement in principle signed with the HDZ in May. This is confirmed by HDZ's inclusion of a debate on intelligence and security services and the establishment of a commission which should probe into the possible abuse of these services into the current parliamentary session's agenda, the opposition believes. "On the one hand we have hard-line rhetoric, and on the other actions which accept our suggestions," Cacic said. He added it was possible a resolution on the intelligence and security system be not reached by consensus among parliamentary parties, but that the HDZ and the Opposition Six stick to their individual assessments. (hina) ha