HNS LEADER ON COALITION WITH SDP, HSS

ZAGREB, Oct 23 (Hina) - The leader of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), Vesna Pusic, said on Thursday the HNS's goal was to beat the rightist coalition in the upcoming parliamentary elections, which she believes can be done in cooperation with the current coalition partners, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS). #L# Pusic was speaking at a news conference marking the end of the party's pre-electoral activities, during which the HNS presented six programmes in 89 towns. The party is now to launch its election campaign. "We and our coalition partners have a clearly defined task - to bring Croatia closer to EU standards, so that it can become an EU member," Pusic said. Asked about the HSS's undefined position regarding post-electoral coalitions, Pusic said she did not believe that the HSS would give up projects it had worked on over the past four years. "If we (the HNS) achieve good results in the elections, we count on the HSS to join us," Pusic said. She said the political options offered to the voters did not have the same results, or the same credibility guaranteeing that what was offered would be carried out. "The HDZ would take at least two years to convince its membership of the goals which need to be achieved, and Croatia cannot afford to wait that long," Pusic said. The HNS has formed pre-election coalitions with the Primorje- Gorski Kotar Alliance and the Croatian Party of Slavonia and Baranja, while talks on forming coalitions with the Liberal Party and the SDP in some constituencies are still underway. Pusic said that she and SDP leader Ivica Racan had agreed that a pre- election coalition between their parties in one constituency would demonstrate the determination of the ruling coalition to continue implementing reforms. This is why HNS's electoral slates remain open to possible changes, she added. Pusic is not heading all party rosters, but is sharing the top position with Public Works Minister Radimir Cacic. (hina) rml