ZAGREB, July 3 (Hina) - The leaders of the Croatian Bloc (HB) and the Croatian True Revival (HIP), Ivic Pasalic and Miroslav Tudjman, on Thursday signed an agreement on forming a pre-electoral coalition and a document called a
declaration for a modern Croatia.
ZAGREB, July 3 (Hina) - The leaders of the Croatian Bloc (HB) and the
Croatian True Revival (HIP), Ivic Pasalic and Miroslav Tudjman, on
Thursday signed an agreement on forming a pre-electoral coalition
and a document called a declaration for a modern Croatia. #L#
The signing ceremony took place at the Altar of Homeland at Mount
Medvedgrad overlooking Zagreb, the place where the late Croatian
president Franjo Tudjman, as his son Miroslav recalled, held his
last speech as the head of state.
According to the HIP leader, today's formation of the coalition of
nation-building parties is a step which will change the balance on
the Croatian political scene. The HIP chief said that the
coalition, which was based on the legacy of the first Croatian
president, would make efforts to help Croatia regain dignity and
the victorious spirit like the one from the times of Franjo
Tudjman's rule.
The coalition counts on some 60 percent of voters who voted for
Franjo Tudjman at the presidential elections, Miroslav Tudjman
added.
"The aim is to contribute to the change of the incumbent
authorities, and chances for it are slim without the cooperation of
Croatian nation-building parties," HB leader Pasalic said.
He added that the coalition was open for cooperation and talks with
other parties of similar orientation. Asked whether there was a
possibility of cooperation with the strongest opposition party --
the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) -- Pasalic, who used to be a
senior HDZ official, said that the HB and HIP were willing to talk
with everybody, including the HDZ. However, he added that it seemed
to him that the ball was now in the other court.
Asked about the case of retired Croatian general Ante Gotovina, who
has been on the run since the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague
unsealed an indictment against him, Pasalic answered that General
Gotovina was always his friend and that he (Pasalic) had "always
respected his personal stand".
"This has not changed and I will be happy if Gotovina ceases to be a
prosecuted person and is given the status of a suspect."
(hina) ms