JOINT LISTS FOR SDP & HSLS AT ELECTIONS - ANNOUNCES SDP'S RACAN

ZAGREB, July 10 (Hina) - The president of Croatia's Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ivica Racan, on Saturday told reporters in Zagreb the SDP and the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) would go to the parliamentary elections later this year with joint lists. "The concrete modalities of our cooperation will however depend on (new electoral legislation)," Racan said in the break of a session of SDP's Main Committee. "This move cannot come unexpected to those familiar" with inter- party relations in Croatia, he added. Racan said he and HSLS president Drazen Budisa could issue the decision on joint lists as early as next week. The HSLS earlier on announced it wanted to make an election coalition with the SDP. The desire for joint electoral lists was recently also voiced by the presidents of the Croatian Peasants' Party and the so called "Porec Group", which comprises the Istrian Democratic Assembly, the Croatian People's Party, and the Liberal Party. According to Racan, the announcements of "closer cooperation" among parties making the Opposition Six group do not exclude further cooperation within the group. Appearing at the elections with two lists will not affect relations among the six parties, he said. Racan stressed he and Budisa want to continue contributing to strong electoral and post-electoral cooperation. (hina) ha