NEGOTIATIONS ON TUDJMAN-OPPOSITION TALKS TO CONTINUE - HDZ OFFICIAL

ZAGREB, Dec 2 (Hina) - Negotiations between the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and six opposition parties on their meeting with Croatian and HDZ president Franjo Tudjman will continue, despite the opposition six' decision of earlier today not to attend the meeting scheduled for Thursday HDZ vice president Vladimir Seks said on Wednesday. Seks said the opposition six was aware, throughout the negotiations, that they would meet with Tudjman in his function as the President of the Republic, and not the president of the HDZ. This was evident from a statement issued by Tudjman's Office, he added. Asked whether there was a possibility that Tudjman might receive the opposition six in his function of president of the ruling party, Seks said it was possible. He pointed out the resignations of opposition representatives on their duties in parliament and their membership in parliamentary committees and parliamentary delegations in European institutions were jeopardising the regular functioning of the parliament and the democratic functioning of the entire constitutional system. "This is why we believed that President Tudjman, to resolve the issue, should speak as President of the Republic," said Seks, adding everything was ready to be discussed and resolved at the Thursday meeting. The HDZ vice president was sure the Tudjman-opposition meeting would have ended with an agreement on the establishment of an investigative commission into possible abuse in the work of security services, or on the establishment of an ad hoc working body with a special task. It was practically a fait accompli, Seks stated. With regard to electoral legislation, he said everything was ready to start discussion, with participation from independent legal experts. (hina) ha mm