Answering a question from the anchorman of Croatian Television's primetime news, Sanader said today's attack was a terrorist act but not international terrorism if viewed in the context of what was called international terrorism after the 2001 New York terrorist attacks.
In this respect, he said Defence Minister Berislav Roncevic's statement that he did not believe Croatia could be a terrorist target was entirely correct because there were no indicators which would point to the contrary.
Sanader said he could not help but feel that today's explosion, in which an embassy staff member was lightly injured, was aimed at practically slowing down Croatia's European Union integration process because it occurred in the embassy of the country currently chairing the EU at a time when Croatia expected a positive decision on the start of EU entry negotiations.
Sanader said he thought today's terror act would not affect Croatia's EU integration because Croatia was a stable country. He voiced hope this was an isolated incident.
In this respect, he cited the US State Department's latest report on Croatia, which he said gave excellent grades to economic reforms and macroeconomic and democratic stability.
Sanader said that according to the report, Croatia might even be the leader in Southeast Europe in terms of security.
He called on Croats to keep their presence of mind, saying competent services were doing everything within their jurisdiction. He voiced hope the perpetrators of today's attack would be found soon.