ZAGREB, Dec 22 (Hina) - The whips of six Croatian Opposition parties +and the majority Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) met on Tuesday to +discuss their stands regarding the election legislation, the +activities of intelligence
services and a bill on the official use +of minority languages and scripts.+ After the meeting at the Parliament building, which lasted an hour +and a half, HDZ whip Vladimir Seks and Opposition representatives +gave separate statements. However, their joint assessment is that +the talks have begun well and that both sides have demonstrated a +serious and responsible attitude.+ Only Damir Kajin of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) had +reserves as regards this assessment.+ The participants in today's talks agreed that no party official +will give statements which could hamper further talks and the +possibility of reaching an agreement.+ The Opposition Six includes the Croatian Social-
ZAGREB, Dec 22 (Hina) - The whips of six Croatian Opposition parties
and the majority Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) met on Tuesday to
discuss their stands regarding the election legislation, the
activities of intelligence services and a bill on the official use
of minority languages and scripts.
After the meeting at the Parliament building, which lasted an hour
and a half, HDZ whip Vladimir Seks and Opposition representatives
gave separate statements. However, their joint assessment is that
the talks have begun well and that both sides have demonstrated a
serious and responsible attitude.
Only Damir Kajin of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) had
reserves as regards this assessment.
The participants in today's talks agreed that no party official
will give statements which could hamper further talks and the
possibility of reaching an agreement.
The Opposition Six includes the Croatian Social-Liberal Party
(HSLS), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Liberal Party (LS),
Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Croatian People's Party/Istrian
Democratic Forum (HNS/IDF are joined in one parliamentary bench)
and the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS).
As regards the Election Law, the two sides agreed that an expert
group should be established to discuss the basic principles of
election legislation, with emphasis on the Diaspora list, control
over and composition of election bodies, representation in the
media during the pre-election campaign and minority representation
in the Sabor.
The expert group should give answers to important issues and make
decisions by consensus. Its decisions would then be presented to
party leaderships, after which the group would be given a mandate to
draw up the election law, Seks said.
The two sides also tackled the activities of intelligence
services.
The HDZ has proposed that an "ad hoc" working body be established
with the aim of tackling this issue or that it be discussed by the
Committee for Internal Policy and National Security. A plenary
parliamentary debate would then be organised on the basis of
discussions in these bodies.
The HDZ proposal did not meet the Opposition's approval, because
the Opposition Six believe that a debate on the activities of
intelligence services should be held at a parliamentary session
first.
According to the Opposition, the debate should be based on the
Report by the Office for National Security and the materials the
Opposition Six sent into parliamentary procedure when they called
for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to probe into the
possible abuse of security services.
The HDZ and the Opposition Six will voice their opinion of a bill on
the official use of minority languages and scripts after they and
minority representatives have received data on jurisdiction of
local authorities in this field from the Administration Ministry.
(hina) jn rml