GENERAL HDZ CONVENTION WILL GIVE OFFICIAL OPINION ON ZGB PROTEST

( Editorial: --> 3694 ) ZAGREB, Feb 21 (Hina) - Presidents of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and Social Democratic Party (SDP), Drazen Budisa and Ivica Racan respectively, sent telegrams to the 4th General Convention of HDZ in which they stated that their reason for not accepting the invitation to observe the proceedings of the General Convention, was the prohibiting of Friday's trade union protest taking place in the central Zagreb square. Budisa said that the decision to ban the protest from the main square and to ignore the protest organisers' motives and political messages was "detrimental" and would "create a negative atmosphere in Zagreb". In the telegram Racan said that he could not accept the invitation "in the atmosphere of strained social conditions", for which according to him HDZ is basically responsible. "Social problems are not solved by empty promises and show of force", said Racan in his telegram. Roused by the correspondence from the presidents of the two parties and protest rally announcements in other towns following the Zagreb rally, the HDZ president proposed to the party convention that a committee be formed which will give a special report on the protest rally in Zagreb and the announcement of new protests. "That trade union and social rally was deliberately organised on the eve of this grand convention," said Tudjman, adding that HDZ and the nation's president were insulted at the protest. (hina) jn mrb 212257 MET feb 98