ZAGREB, July 21 (Hina) - Representatives of Croatia's ruling and two opposition parties on Wednesday spoke to the Croatian Television evening news about the recommendations and statements made in Brussels by European Union Council of
Ministers chairwoman Tarja Halonen. Halonen, Foreign Minister of Finland, said the present moment was a golden one for Croatia. "The Opposition Six is willing to resume negotiations on electoral legislation," said Zlatko Tomcic, president of the Croatian Peasants' Party, referring to the negotiations between the opposition party group and the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which were interrupted last week. According to Tomcic, "the condition is that the HDZ abandon postal votes and set the date of the elections. After that, all other procedures will be established to reach by consensus the three laws, the electoral law, on electoral units, and on HRT
ZAGREB, July 21 (Hina) - Representatives of Croatia's ruling and
two opposition parties on Wednesday spoke to the Croatian
Television evening news about the recommendations and statements
made in Brussels by European Union Council of Ministers chairwoman
Tarja Halonen.
Halonen, Foreign Minister of Finland, said the present moment was a
golden one for Croatia.
"The Opposition Six is willing to resume negotiations on electoral
legislation," said Zlatko Tomcic, president of the Croatian
Peasants' Party, referring to the negotiations between the
opposition party group and the ruling Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ), which were interrupted last week.
According to Tomcic, "the condition is that the HDZ abandon postal
votes and set the date of the elections. After that, all other
procedures will be established to reach by consensus the three
laws, the electoral law, on electoral units, and on HRT (Croatian
Radio-Television)."
Tomcic believes it was unnecessary to even bring Croatia in the
position to have the European Union set what it needs to do
regarding electoral legislation.
Croatian Social Liberal Party secretary general Jozo Rados said
great responsibility was called for now to again sit at the
negotiating table.
Given that the ruling HDZ was the first to strain the circumstances,
it must make the first step, Rados asserted. The electoral issue is
too important to miss the opportunity, he said, adding the parties
must resume talks to see what is to be done.
HDZ chief negotiator Vladimir Seks said the HDZ remains willing to
define by compromise an already reached agreement and thus realise
one of the chief preconditions for Croatia's integration with Euro-
Atlantic institutions.
Seks said he was glad the opposition leaders "have changed their
hard-line standpoints and come only one step from reaching a
definitive agreement." "This is a golden opportunity for Croatia,"
Seks said, adding "not all that glitters is gold."
(hina) ha