BUDISA ON TALKS WITH HDZ

ZAGREB, June 14 (Hina) - "For the moment, the parliamentary opposition does not intend to nominate candidates for deputy speakers in both Houses. The opposition is at one in this and will insist on the principles," Liberal leader Drazen Budisa told reporters after a protracted meeting of opposition parties in the Croatian Parliament. Budisa said the opposition would not insist on their former nominees (Mesic and Manolic) but would insist on the restoration of the status quo before the election of the deputy speaker of the House of Counties. "The opposition considers the vote taken in this matter to have been against procedure," Budisa said. He denied any legitimacy to the sittings of both Houses during the opposition boycott. The opposition has boycotted parliamentary sittings since its nominee, Josip Manolic, was voted down as deputy speaker at the May 23 sitting of the House of Counties. In exchange for this concession, the opposition demands that the Standing Orders be strictly observed and that the 18th session of the House of Representatives be called anew. "If the HDZ accepts this proposal, we are going to return to the benches," said Budisa. Otherwise, the "opposition will put all its mandates in parliamentary committees and commissions at the disposition of the Parliament," said Budisa. Budisa said he was going to meet with HDZ secretary-general Jure Radic today. HDZ and opposition negotiators are going to meet on Thursday, he said. Today's meeting of opposition parties was attended by representatives of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Croatian National Party (HNS), the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS), the Serbian National Party (SNS) and independent candidates. 141610 MET jun 94