ZAGREB, June 30 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Wednesday welcomed the initiative of the president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentary bench, Vladimir Seks, who suggested that talks with the
"Opposition Six" on a new election law continue tomorrow. Speaking at today's House of Representatives' session which tackled Croatia's foreign policy, Granic described Seks's proposal as very good. He warned the MPs that Croatia's negotiations with the international community regarding the PHARE programme or Croatia's admission to the European Union could not continue without an agreement between the HDZ and the Opposition Six on the election legislation. The MPs also addressed the Stability Pact, a document which envisages, among other things, mature democratic processes based on free and fair elections in south-east Europe. The debate concentrated on the current stal
ZAGREB, June 30 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on
Wednesday welcomed the initiative of the president of the Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentary bench, Vladimir Seks, who
suggested that talks with the "Opposition Six" on a new election law
continue tomorrow.
Speaking at today's House of Representatives' session which
tackled Croatia's foreign policy, Granic described Seks's proposal
as very good. He warned the MPs that Croatia's negotiations with the
international community regarding the PHARE programme or Croatia's
admission to the European Union could not continue without an
agreement between the HDZ and the Opposition Six on the election
legislation.
The MPs also addressed the Stability Pact, a document which
envisages, among other things, mature democratic processes based
on free and fair elections in south-east Europe. The debate
concentrated on the current stalemate in talks between the HDZ and
the Opposition Six on the election law.
HDZ and Opposition MPs accused each other for not abiding by the May
25 agreement, hypocrisy and blackmailing.
Obligations which were taken on before the international community
have to be fulfilled together and not blocked by additional
demands, said Seks. He called on the Opposition Six to meet tomorrow
with HDZ representatives and agree on the implementation of
principles from the May agreement. He reminded that the Opposition
had not accepted his invitation for talks yesterday.
Drazen Budisa (Croatian Social-Liberal Party, HSLS) said one had to
resolve the basic issue - whether the Opposition and the HDZ
understood in the same way the May agreement and conditions for
adopting the election law.
According to Seks, talks between the HDZ and the Opposition came to
a halt after the HDZ had proposed the first version of the election
bill. He accused the Opposition Six of discontinuing further talks
by setting additional demands after the May agreement had been
signed.
These additional demands regard a consensus on a parliamentary
debate on intelligence and security services, the establishment of
a commission of inquiry to probe into their possible abuse, the
setting of the election date, the consensual adoption of laws on
constituencies and changes to the Law on Croatian Television (HTV),
as well as the adoption of a code regulating the conduct of
political parties prior to the elections.
(hina) rml