Sanader reproached Zagreb for what he said was its inappropriate relationship to the most important figure in recent Croatian history, who he said deserved a monument and a square in the centre of the capital.
Sanader was speaking in front of more than 1,000 members and supporters of the HDZ at a ceremony marking the 17th anniversary of the party's Split branch. They supported his proposal.
Sanader said the Tudjman-founded HDZ was and would remain the strongest party in Croatia's history.
The HDZ has fulfilled everything it promised three years ago when it came to power after four years and has never been stronger, Sanader said, suggesting to the opposition not to ask for early elections as they would remain in the opposition after parliamentary polls in November.
He announced that he, Deputy PM Jadranka Kosor and a delegation of Homeland War associations would visit the Pope on January 17, on the 15th anniversary of Croatia's international recognition, to thank the Vatican for everything its diplomacy had done for Croatia.
Sanader said the visit testified to the continuation of good relations between Croatia and the Holy See, which had been the first to recognise Croatia.
The PM recalled his meeting with US President George Bush late last year, saying that US circles too had described it as one of the most important events and successes of Croatia's politics. He said the biggest credit for the meeting in which Croatia was an equal partner belonged to the war veterans and their sacrifice for Croatia.
Commenting on current topics, he said that none of the 30 generals who met with the HDZ recently had any complaints about the state policy but supported every move of the government and the HDZ.
Responding to those claiming that the HDZ would oust Vladimir Seks, Sanader said Seks had not been written off and would remain the parliament speaker and in the HDZ leadership.
Highlighting the importance of emigrants in the creation and building of independent Croatia, Sanader said that Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina were and must remain an equal constituent people with Croatia's help.
He said this was Croatia's constitutional as well as moral obligation, also as a signatory to the Dayton agreement, which ended the war in Bosnia in 1995. He called on Dragan Covic and Bozo Ljubic, the leaders of the HDZ BiH and HDZ 1990 parties, which he said were one party that had divided into two due to personal vanities, to unite and defend together the interests of the Bosnian Croat people, while Croatia would continue to help, politically and financially.
Sanader also commented on statements by Party of Rights (HSP) deputy Tonci Tadic and Hvar Mayor Pjerin Bebic about the public-private partnership with Orco Group in the Suncani Hvar hotel company. He said it was not up to Tadic to ask that land be given back to the Church as the government would agree about that with representatives of the Church and the town of Hvar. He added the HDZ was working for Croatia's benefit and that while others just paid lip service, the HDZ was actually repaying the Church, pensioners, veterans and their families.
Sanader announced that the southern region of Dalmatia would be supplied with gas by 2010, as well as the closure of other infrastructure-related issues.
Also today, the PM inaugurated four sub-stations and a new high-voltage cable system of the state-owned power company HEP which were built as part of Programme Split. A total 218 million kuna was invested in the construction and renovation of those facilities between 2003 and 2006.
Sanader announced major investments in the upgrading of the water-supply system in the Slavonia region and in Zadar's hinterland, the continuation of highway construction and of the Peljesac bridge.
(EUR1 = 7.35 kuna)