CROATIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES COMMENT ON NORMALIZATION AGREEMENT

ZAGREB, Aug 24 (Hina) - Several Croatian opposition parties issued statements on Saturday commenting on Friday's signing of the agreement on the normalization of relations between Croatia and Yugoslavia. The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) welcomed the agreement, describing it as "a good basis for successful and just resolution of a number of outstanding issues in a peaceful, diplomatic way." HSLS called for an urgent parliamentary debate on the agreement before its ratification. "By signing the agreement, Yugoslavia admitted the defeat of its (expansionist) policy at the expense of Croatia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, which unfortunately is not evident from the text. The agreement also makes no mention of responsibility for the undeclared war and its consequences," the HSLS statement said. The HSLS said it hoped that in the course of negotiations there had been no secret arrangements in relation to neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Croatian People's Party (HNS) said it supported the agreement and the normalization of relations with Yugoslavia but it did not approve of the time, place, manner and content of the accord. HNS leader Radomir Cacic said that it was humiliating for Croatia to sign the agreement in Belgrade. "The time was obviously chosen by Milosevic, considering the upcoming elections in Serbia." "The manner in which the agreement was signed shows continued disrespect for democracy in this country because such an important decision had not been ratified by the Croatian Parliament," Cacic said. The Social Democratic Action of Croatia (ASH) welcomed the agreement as "a first step in the necessary restoration of relations between the two neighbouring countries and a contribution to the resolution of the overall situation in the former Yugoslavia." "The agreement is equally binding on both sides and it cannot and should not serve as an alibi of either side to lay claim to the territory of a third country," the ASH statement said. (hina) vm 242145 MET aug 96