OPPOSITION ALLIANCE ON GOVT DECISION TO DISSOLVE ZAGREB CITY ASSEM

ASSEM $ BLY ZAGREB, 30 April (Hina) - The alliance of seven Opposition parties (the Croatian Social-Liberal Party, the Social-Democratic Party, the Croatian Peasants' Party, the Croatian Independent Democrats, the Croatian People's Party, the Action of Croatian Social Democrats, the Croatian Party of Rights - 1861) on Tuesday issued a statement regarding today's decision of the Government on the dissolution of the Zagreb City Assembly. #L# 'We have been expecting the Government's decision on the dissolution of the Zagreb City Assembly, considering the recent behaviour of the leading party. It is really time to stop this political crisis in Zagreb, which started by the refusal to accept the will of the citizens and the majority of councilors and their democratic right to elect their mayor and city administration. This decision completed the undemocratic policy which at the beginning of the crisis had been put very succinctly by the President of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ); 'We will not allow an opposition situation in Zagreb'. Indeed, democracy was not welcome in Zagreb. The Government decision not only deprives the majority of the councilors in the City Assembly to elect the mayor and the city administration but it dissolves the City Assembly as a last obstacle to the undemocratic leading policy in Zagreb. The leading party did not manage to break the Opposition alliance which showed its strength and responsibility to Zagreb residents; we ask therefore that elections in Zagreb be called immediately and that the will of its citizens be finally accepted', the statement of the Opposition alliance said. (hina) rm 301823 MET apr 96