"We estimate that parliament could adopt the decision next week", Sanader said after presenting draft rules on EFPZ activation to President Stjepan Mesic and the leaders of the majority of parliamentary parties. Mesic endorsed the draft decision while the others have a good opinion of it, said Sanader. We agreed that the representatives of the parties who attended the meeting would consult with party bodies by Tuesday or Wednesday, when the government expects to receive their opinion, said the PM.
The meeting showed that we can find possibilities of satisfying the common interest by not affecting the declaration of EFPZ or EU integration."
Sanader declined to speak of the contents of the decision, saying only that it saw to both of those national interests. Also present at the meeting was Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks and representatives of all parliamentary parties apart from the Party of the Rights (HSP), the Democratic Centre (DC) and the HDSSB regional party.
Sanader reiterated that Croatia had the sovereign and autonomous right to proclaim EFPZ and that this was within parliament's powers.
On the other hand, the PM said Croatia wanted to join the EU and apply European standards even when it comes to the moves that were to me made unilaterally.
"In keeping with good tradition we, as responsible politicians, want to find a solution that would be most favourable for Croatia and which reconciles both national interests," Sanader said at the meeting also attended by Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks and representatives of all parliamentary parties apart from the Party of the Rights (HSP), the Democratic Centre (DC) and the HDSSB regional party.