OPPOSITION SIX MEET TO SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT

ZAGREB, Sept 2 (Hina) - Presidents of six Croatian opposition parties met in Zagreb Thursday to sign an agreement on cooperation in the election and post-election period, and to try and solve contentious issues. Presidents of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Liberal Party (LS), Croatian People's Party (HNS), Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) met for the second time after the coalition of the Split branches of the SDP and HSLS in August, which was criticised by the other four parties. The agreement should be a formal confirmation of a stop to public attacks among parties which have diminished in the past several weeks. According to some reports, the SDP and HSLS will not sign an agreement which would endanger their coalition in Split, and will suggest a joint candidacy at the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The agreement signed by the six opposition parties would stipulate that the six would not cooperate with the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) after the elections. The Opposition will probably confirm they would not continue talks with the HDZ about the electoral law, as the HDZ is refusing to reach a consensus about amendments to the Law on Croatian Radio and Television. It is the stance of the six parties that the elections cannot be fair without transforming the state television into a public medium. (hina) lml