HDZ, OPPOSITION TO MEET TUESDAY TO DISCUSS ELECTION LAW, HRT RULES

ZAGREB, Oct 15 (Hina) - Representatives of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the "Opposition Six" will meet again on Tuesday to try to reach an agreement on electoral legislation and Croatian Radio Television (HRT) rules for covering election campaigning. #L# This was confirmed on Friday by the new coordinator of the Opposition Six, Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) president Ivan Jakovcic, and Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic, who held a short meeting. The meeting was preceded by a meeting between five opposition parties (Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) president Drazen Budisa was late for the meeting). After this meeting, Jakovcic told reporters the Opposition Six were ready to renew talks with the HDZ. We are ready to discuss and reach an agreement on a consensus on the election law, the law on electoral units, and the model of HRT's covering election campaigning, on condition that HRT rules of conduct be established by a special parliamentary decision which will be legally founded, Jakovcic said. Speaking about the election law, Jakovcic said the Opposition Six insisted on the already known principles, i.e., nine electoral units and a non-fixed quota for the Diaspora list. Jakovcic dismissed claims that the latest Opposition move was prompted by HDZ's announcement on the division of Croatia into 12 electoral units. After repeated requests to state the real reason for the latest move, Jakovcic said the Opposition wanted to act in a responsible and constructive manner in all crucial moments for Croatian democracy, as it had done before. There was no clear answer to the reporters' question whether this meant that the Opposition Six were giving up the condition that prior to a consensus on HRT rules of conduct, editors-in-chief who are members of the HDZ Head Committee, resign from their posts on HRT. Jakovcic told reporters that members of the Opposition Six would not participate in the TV show "From Party Life". It is completely unacceptable and we reject even the thought of being part of a political and media ghetto, he said. The Opposition wants to participate in news programmes in a way which will secure fair elections. In that context, we are warning the HDZ, its leadership, and indirectly also those working on HRT, that they will have to take responsibility for a democratic and fair election, he added. HDZ's main negotiator on electoral legislation, Vladimir Seks, said the suggestion of the Opposition Six had already been put forward by the HDZ on several occasions. If their intentions are sincere, we will do everything that is necessary so that the election law and HRT rules are treated as a joint project by the HDZ and the Opposition Six, Seks said. He expressed moderate optimism regarding the Tuesday meeting, warning that one should be cautious. It remains to be seen whether they genuinely wish to reach a consensus on all agreed solutions, Seks said. (hina) rml