OPPOSITION ALLIANCE SENDS MESSAGE TO CITIZENS OF ZAGREB

ZAGREB, April 2 (Hina) - A seven-party opposition alliance on Tuesday issued a message to the citizens of Zagreb and Zagreb County in response to a recent letter by the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party. The Alliance said that it had been trying for five months to form local government in the City and County of Zagreb and "resolve the crisis created by refusal of the Croatian Democratic Union and its president Franjo Tudjman, who is at the same time the president of the Republic, to accept their electoral defeat." The message said that the residents of the City and County of Zagreb had given 64 percent of their votes in the 29 October 1995 election to the Alliance which had been "publicly formed before the election" and "presented to the public during the election campaign" and which "held together after the election." The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), the Croatian Independent Democrats (HND), the Croatian People's Party (HNS), the Social Democratic Action of Croatia (ASH) and the Croatian Party of Rights 1861 (HSP 1861) said that they had different platforms but that they were "united by their loyalty to democracy." The message further said that both the citizens and the Alliance were entitled and obliged by the Constitution and the law to prevent attempts to "reduce our freedoms and to rob us of our dream of a free and democratic Croatia which we are eager to make a reality as soon as possible." "The battle for such Croatia is being fought through efforts to preserve the results of the electoral victory of our Alliance in the City and County of Zagreb. "If we give in to the antidemocratic campaign launched by the Croatian Democratic (!) Union and give up our vision, programme and mandate - then nothing will be left of our dream. That is why you and us will, can and must pass this test," the Alliance said. (hina) vm jn 021859 MET apr 96