HNS SUPPORTS PRESIDENT MESIC'S CANDIDACY FOR SECOND TERM IN OFFICE

TRAKOSCAN, May 8 (Hina) - The Croatian People's Party (HNS) has unanimously supported the candidacy of Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic for second term in office, the HNS leader Vesna Pusic said after the party leadership held its session in Trakoscan (northern Croatia) on Saturday.#L# The Main Committee decided to propose Vesna Pusic to remain at the helm of the HNS and Radimir Cacic to remain as the chairman of the Main Committee. The proposals will be put on the agenda of the election convention of this opposition party, scheduled to take place in Zagreb on 22 May. Commenting on the party's platform for next four years, Pusic said that it would put emphasis on models of development of Croatia as a country offering equal opportunities to everybody and on new social policy, as the current policy in social welfare, Pusic said, was reduced to alms. The HNS views European Union standards as very important but they should serve, first of all, as guidelines for reforms inside the country. The platform which will be discussed at the 22 May convention stresses the importance of assuring and strengthening human and individual rights and the development of the middle class. (Hina) ms