ZAGREB, May 8 (Hina) - The ninth convention of Croatia's leading opposition party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), began in Zagreb on Saturday morning under the motto "A Force for Change".
ZAGREB, May 8 (Hina) - The ninth convention of Croatia's leading
opposition party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), began in Zagreb
on Saturday morning under the motto "A Force for Change".#L#
The convention is being attended by 1,358 delegates who are expected
to re-elect Ivica Racan for another term as party president, his
fourth in a row. His deputy will be elected from among four
candidates.
Delegates will also elect three vice-presidents of the party from
among 14 candidates and members of the main and supervisory
committees.
After the playing of the national anthem and observing a minute of
silence in tribute to those killed in the Homeland War, SDP leader
Ivica Racan greeted those present and expressed hope that "an
important job will be completed" at today's convention.
The convention is also being attended by many guests --
representatives of the Office of the President of the Republic,
political parties (HNS, HSS, HSP, SDSS, Libra, LS, IDS, DC and PGS),
trade unions, social democratic and related parties from Europe and
the world, and foreign diplomats accredited in Croatia.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, German SPD party chairman Franz
Muentefering, Hungarian Socialist Party leader Laszlo Kovacs and the
president of the Socialist International, Antonio Guterres, have sent
telegrams of support.
(Hina) vm