"We did hold talks, not about coalitions, but about concrete projects," Sanader told the press.
He underlined that he visited Osijek to attend the opening of the Osijek Summer festival and used the opportunity to discuss important projects for the city and county with local officials and with all the parties in the city government, including the Party of Rights (HSP) and the Croatian Democratic Alliance of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB).
"The issue of a possible coalition is absolutely in the background at this moment. We didn't talk about that yesterday, but we showed that it's normal to talk about projects for the city and the county, and that what is good for Osijek and the county, as stated by representatives of both the HDZ and the other parties at yesterday's meeting, is good for Croatia as well and we shall support that."
Reporters reminded him that HSP and HDSSB leaders indicated that a coalition with the HDZ was possible, despite harsh criticisms exchanged between the HDZ and the HDSSB in the recent past.
"Rest assured, they heard that what they had been saying was unacceptable and we reject it," Sanader said, but that no prime minister could allow himself not to talk with those governing a city or a county, "regardless of what we think of each other".
He said the HDZ showed what it thought of such people two years ago when it ousted them. "If they had been implementing the HDZ programme, they would still be in the HDZ," he said, but added that the public expected political quarrels to remain in the background and that talks focus on their well-being.
"That's why I ignored all the insults levelled at the HDZ, myself and (Parliament Speaker Vladimir) Seks, and we talked about projects. I will always do that for the citizens of Osijek and Slavonia," said Sanader.