ZAGREB, Oct 19 (Hina) - Croatia's Opposition Six party group on Tuesday proposed to the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) the establishment of a parliamentary commission which would monitor the work of Croatian Radio and
Television (HRT) as of the day when the date of the impending parliamentary elections will be made known, and not only for the duration of the pre-electoral campaign. The ruling HDZ will notify the opposition on Friday whether it agrees to the proposal, which the opposition put forward as a condition to resume talks on an electoral legislation package. "I'm glad the meeting was fruitful, because now it's clear what can immediately be adopted for possible harmonisation, and what has yet to be agreed on," parliament president Vlatko Pavletic, a member of the HDZ, told reporters. Pavletic was referring to today's talks with representatives of the Istrian Democratic Asse
ZAGREB, Oct 19 (Hina) - Croatia's Opposition Six party group on
Tuesday proposed to the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) the
establishment of a parliamentary commission which would monitor
the work of Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) as of the day when
the date of the impending parliamentary elections will be made
known, and not only for the duration of the pre-electoral
campaign.
The ruling HDZ will notify the opposition on Friday whether it
agrees to the proposal, which the opposition put forward as a
condition to resume talks on an electoral legislation package.
"I'm glad the meeting was fruitful, because now it's clear what can
immediately be adopted for possible harmonisation, and what has yet
to be agreed on," parliament president Vlatko Pavletic, a member of
the HDZ, told reporters.
Pavletic was referring to today's talks with representatives of the
Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), the Social Democratic Party,
the Croatian Peasants' Party, the Liberal Party, and the Croatian
People's Party.
Opposition Six coordinator Ivan Jakovcic, IDS, said the absence at
today's meeting of a representative of the Croatian Social Liberal
Party (HSLS) was the result of a "little misunderstanding." He
eliminated the possibility that this could lead to problems, "and
certainly not to an interruption in cooperation" among the six
opposition parties.
The HSLS said in a statement yesterday it stuck by the positions the
Opposition Six had taken on previous meetings, and that it
therefore saw no reason for reconsidering and resuming
negotiations with the HDZ.
Parliament president Pavletic said today's meeting was a big step
forward, and that the situation was now more optimistic.
He said the opposition had also urged the passing of a rule book for
HRT editors and reporters which would be binding with regard to the
coverage of parties' pre-electoral activities.
"We also talked about the electoral law and the law on electoral
units," Pavletic said, but was not specific. The date of the
elections was not discussed, he added.
According to HDZ negotiator Vladimir Seks, the opposition has set
HDZ's acceptance of the establishment of a HRT-monitoring
commission as a condition for the resumption of negotiations.
The opposition took this motion from the Forum 21 association of
electronic media journalists, Seks added. He explained the motion
suggests that the commission be presided by the ombudsman, and
include one representative of the parliamentary majority and one of
the minority, as well as two non-party persons who would be
suggested by the ombudsman.
Opposition Six coordinator Jakovcic said today's initiative was
new only in form. It is an old opposition demand for the
transformation of the HRT into a public media, he said, and added,
"We believe that in this part, consensus can be reached."
According to Jakovcic, the Opposition Six will discard its latest
demand for the resignations of HDZ officials from posts at the HRT
if the HDZ accepts today's motion.
(hina) ha jn