OPPOSITION SIX PARTIES WELCOME BISHOPS' MESSAGE ON ELECTION

ZAGREB, Dec 1 (Hina) - Representatives of the Opposition Six alliance on Wednesday commented to Hina on a recent message which Croatian Catholic bishops released on occasion of the coming parliamentary election. On behalf of the Social and Democratic Party (SDP), Tonino Picula said that "unfortunately, the date of the election does not leave enough room to the hope that 'the liturgical atmosphere of Advent and Christmas times would not be considerably disrupted' as it was said in the pastoral message." The SDP particularly greets a part of the message which calls on citizens to turn out at the polls and vote according to their conscience, Picula added. The pastoral message of Catholic bishops is very well accepted, said a spokesman for the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS). The importance of the message is that it calls on all political factors that will take part in the election to show tolerance and mutual respect. It also appeals for a democratic atmosphere in the run-up to the election. For the HSS it is very much acceptable, Trconic added. On behalf of the Croatian Social and Liberal Party (HSLS), Djurdja Adlesic said she viewed this pastoral message as the best message of the Church in pre-election periods so far. The Church does not go into the everyday politics, it calls on priests not to support publicly any party and not suggest for whom believers should vote, while such situations have occurred to date. The message is moderate and well-measured as it has been the case so far, the Istrian Democratic Alliance (IDS) President Ivan Jakovcic said. This message is an expression of the hope of the Church that after the coming election Croatia would enter a period of tolerance and democracy and that new deputies to the Sabor would build such a State which is appropriate to European values. Croatia's Catholic bishops forwarded the message on November 29. The ruling HDZ party also applauded the message on Tuesday. (hina) mm ms