ZAGREB, Feb 6 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) fully supports the policy of U.S. President George Bush and the United States' administration towards Iraq, party leader Ivo Sanader said in a statement today.
ZAGREB, Feb 6 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) fully
supports the policy of U.S. President George Bush and the United
States' administration towards Iraq, party leader Ivo Sanader said
in a statement today. #L#
Trans-Atlantic alliance remains the key precondition for Europe's
security. The U.S. is and must remain Europe's main partner and
friend. The HDZ fully understands and supports the American policy
in the anti-terrorist coalition, as well as in the struggle against
threats from biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction,
the HDZ reports.
A senior official of the Croatian Peasants Party (HSS), Ante
Markov, said he could not comment on Croatia's support to the
American policy towards Iraq because "I am not sure that this is
Croatia's decision".
"I can only comment on what is happening in the sense of decisions
which pass procedure with the Croatian president, parliament and
government," Markov said.
The basic document which determines Croatia's role with regard to
Iraq is a decision of the U.N. Security Council, Markov said, adding
that that decision was the only important document.
The Democratic Centre (DC) endorses the international community's
request for the disarmament of Iraq and for the cessation of support
to the most radical terrorist organisations, DC president Mate
Granic said. He added that his party supported the Vilnius Group in
this sense, and stressed that the international community's
efforts in that direction should be coordinated by the U.N.
Security Council.
The vice-president of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), Damir
Kajin, said his opinion was closer to that of France and Germany
than to that of the U.S. with regard to the international
community's efforts to disarm Iraq.
If it had wanted to do so, the United States could have solved the
issue of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in 1991 when the father of
the incumbent American president left him in office to counter-
balance Iran and the Kurds in northern Iraq, Kajin said.
Kajin believes that the U.S. interest in developing its own war
industry rather than the issue of oil is crucial in this case. "I am
therefore surprised by Croatia's benevolent stances," Kajin said.
The Croatian Bloc (HB) believes the United States' and its allies'
announced military action to disarm Iraq is justified, the party
said.
The HB appreciates the United States' leading role in the anti-
terrorist coalition and believes that the U.N. Security Council
will give the green light for the military action.
Tonci Tadic of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) said that
Croatia's support was in keeping with the same policy which had
resulted in sending Croatian troops to Afghanistan, with only the
HSP opposing this decision. This support will not contribute to
improving Croatia's international political position, nor will it
speed up its entry into NATO and the EU, said Tadic.
Croatia does not have a clear economic and political response to the
oil supply crisis and turbulence in international economy which
this international conflict will bring about. This government was
not authorised by the Croatian people to endorse the attack, the
more so as polls show that most citizens are against it. The HSP's
principle stance is similar to that of leading EU countries which
have expressed reserve towards the manner in which the U.S. is
preparing to attack Iraq.
The existing system of collective security is based on the United
Nations and we could accept a military action only if it is based on
a decision by the U.N. Security Council, said Tadic.
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