ZAGREB, Jan 19 (Hina) - The leaders of Croatian parliamentary parties met Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Monday for talks on his recent European tour and Croatia's efforts to join the European Union.
ZAGREB, Jan 19 (Hina) - The leaders of Croatian parliamentary parties
met Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Monday for talks on his recent
European tour and Croatia's efforts to join the European Union.#L#
"We discussed the subject over which there is the highest level of
consensus among different parties, which is not the case with some
domestic issues," Social Democratic Party president Ivica Racan told a
press conference after the talks.
Racan said he was optimistic about the next move the new government
would take, and voiced confidence that the European Commission would
give a positive opinion on Croatia's membership application in the
spring.
"I deeply believe that what the previous government did during its
four-year term is the basis for a positive opinion," the former prime
minister said.
Commenting on speculation about Croatia's EU entry, the SDP leader
said the response to this issue depended on future steps Croatia would
take and whether it would continue developing as a democratic nation.
"Any government representing democratic Croatia will be well received
in the Union. In this context, there have been no unpleasant
surprises, and it can be said that Sanader's visit was successful,"
Racan said.
Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) leader Anto Djapic said there was a
high degree of consensus among political parties in Croatia over the
country's membership of the European Union, and that there were
differences only over some issues.
Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) president Ivan Cehok described
the talks with the prime minister as exhaustive and welcome.
(Hina) vm sb