HSP LEADER EXPECTS GOVT TO IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO FOREIGN DIPLOMATS' STATEMENTS

SIBENIK, April 13 (Hina) - The Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) leader, Anto Djapic, has asked the government to promptly respond to statements of British and US diplomats who said that Croatia would not get a positive opinion of the European Commission on its EU membership application until it solved the issue of fugitive general Ante Gotovina, who is wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.#L# "We expect the government to seriously respond to international pressure, that has been implied in the statements of British Europe minister Denis MacShane and the US Ambassador to Bosnia, Clifford Bond. According to their statements, Croatia will not get the positive opinion for joining in the international integration processes until it solves the issue of General Gotovina," the chief of the right opposition party told a news conference in the coastal city of Sibenik on Tuesday. Djapic believes that the Ivo Sanader cabinet should react more strongly and show what is the alternative policy in case Zagreb does not receive the positive 'avis'. He went on to say that "the HSP will not accept the betrayal of national interests". "We do not want to prejudge moves which somebody in Croatia will make, particularly not moves of those who won the election by the will of voters, but if betrayal is a condition for the admission to NATO and the EU, we shall not accept it," Djapic said after the HSP Presidency held its founding session. At the session Ruza Tomasic and Tonci Tadic were elected as the party's vice presidents, and the presidency supported a proposal that Slaven Letic be the HSP candidate in the next Croatian presidential election. (Hina) ms sb