PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RECEIVES PARTY LEADERS

ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Monday met with leaders of the parliamentary parties and heads of independent Parliament benches to discuss Croatian Democratic Union's proposal to relieve the actual speakers and appoint others, since Mesic and Manolic had left the majority party (HDZ) and founded another, the Croatian Independent Democrats (HND). The meeting also discussed the need for changes in parliamentary commissions, in view of the new party composition of Parliament, said the president's office. Speaker of the House of Representatives and HND leader Stipe Mesic did not appear at the meeting. The participants agreed that these problems should be resolved by democratic means, in keeping with Standing Orders and procedure so as to reach a consensus if possible, said the president's office. The House of Counties will convene tomorrow, and the House of Representatives on Wednesday. 161624 MET may 94