HDZ AND SIX OPPOSITION PARTIES TO CONTINUE TALKS NEXT WEEK

ZAGREB, Dec 15 (Hina) - Talks between the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and six opposition parties will continue in the Croatian National Sabor next week, president of the HDZ parliamentary bench Vladimir Seks said on Monday. Seks told reporters the talks would be held at the level of bench presidents. He added it had already been arranged with most of the bench presidents to "lay the cards on the table". According to Seks, that means the talks would discuss two topics: electoral legislation, and the possibility of a discussion in Sabor on the role and activities of intelligence services. Representatives of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), the Croatian People's Party (HNS), and the Liberal Party (LS), which comprise the Opposition Six, gave their resignations last month on all parliamentary duties excluding the ones in the Lower House. The six parties resigned after the ruling party rejected their proposal for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate accuracy of allegations on the political abuse of intelligence services. Seks told reporters the HDZ bench had not yet given its opinion on the Croatian Party of Rights proposal to establish a commission of inquiry to verify why the Croatian Territorial Defence was disarmed in late 1989 and early 1990 ahead of the Yugoslav People's Army attack on Croatia. The HSP proposal was endorsed by certain HDZ representatives. The proposal will be discussed at the first Lower House Session in January, Seks concluded. (hina) it jn/ha