SNP in talks with Greens

SNP in talks with Greens
The SNP have held talks with the Greens on parliamentary co-operation following the next Scottish election.
Nationalists are aiming to be the biggest Holyrood party in 2007, while the Greens have set out hopes to form part of a power-sharing Executive.
But SNP leader Alex Salmond pulled back from suggestions that the talks were coalition negotiations telling BBC Scotland: "The SNP intends to become the largest party in the parliament.
"The Greens I'm sure will be a parliamentary force in that parliament and you would expect the parties to be preparing for the situation where we'll be able to replace the current discredited Labour Executive with a different one."
But Mr Salmond stressed that talks were at an early stage, adding: "They were looking at areas of parliamentary co-operation. That would be more accurate than talking about coalitions."
The SNP and Greens agree in a number of policy areas such as nuclear power, rendition flights and Scottish independence, but the Greens may clash with the SNP's economic growth strategy because of environmental concerns.
Mr Salmond said: "Clearly there are areas where the two parties don't agree but there are areas where we do agree. Disagreements can either be put to one side or sidelined."
"Coalition is only one possibility," he added.
"There are areas of parliamentary co-operation that stop short of coalitions."
Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: "Alex Salmond's approach is recognising that the Greens are a serious force in Scottish politics, that we're going to be on the political map for some time to come and that where we have common ground, it's good to talk.
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