RACAN EXPECTS PARTY CONVENTION TO RESULT IN "A NEW AND STRONGER SDP"

ZAGREB, May 6 (Hina) - Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Ivica Racan said on Thursday he expected the forthcoming party convention to create room for building "a new and stronger SDP over the next few years" and achieving the party's strategic goal of preserving and consolidating social democracy in Croatia.#L# Speaking at a press briefing ahead of his party's ninth election convention scheduled to take place in Zagreb on Saturday, Racan said that the SDP "must preserve all the virtues and values that helped it become and remain a big and unavoidable party on the Croatian political scene". In order to achieve this goal, the SDP must undergo changes that are necessary for the successful consolidation of the party and its return to power at the next election, Racan said. "We have made our contribution to the new Croatia and for the sake of the new Croatia we ourselves must also change, because it is not enough only for Croatia to change," the leader of the largest opposition party said. Racan said his party "must become more dynamic and take the necessary steps forward in its organisation and method of work, it needs new ideas, new people and a new sensibility." (Hina) vm