ZAGREB, Oct 31 (Hina) - Although both confident of winning next month's parliamentary election, the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said on Friday that regardless of the winner,
Croatia's admission to the European Union in 2007 was the top priority national interest.
ZAGREB, Oct 31 (Hina) - Although both confident of winning next
month's parliamentary election, the leaders of the Social
Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said
on Friday that regardless of the winner, Croatia's admission to the
European Union in 2007 was the top priority national interest. #L#
SDP's Ivica Racan and HDZ's Ivo Sanader, the presidents of
Croatia's two biggest political parties, today took part in a
Croatian Radio duel.
Prime Minister Racan said he was certain the EU would test the next
government, regardless of its composition.
"Any hesitation we can hear now, particularly from the HDZ and
parties gathered around it, may be fatal for Croatia, even now in
the pre-election period, and especially after the elections," he
said.
Sanader dismissed the argument that a change of government would
delay Croatia's EU entry. "New authorities will head for the EU very
firmly, aware there is no time to lose and that in the first six
months we have to acquire the status of EU candidate."
Both Racan and Sanader say they will be the ones to take Croatia into
the Union in 2007, which both agree is realistic although there are
difficulties.
They agree cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia will remain one of the main criteria, although
Sanader said that if the HDZ won the election, his cabinet would
insist on a new approach which did not question the nature of last
decade's Homeland War.
Sanader announced he would refute parts of the indictment against
fugitive General Ante Gotovina, notably those concerning Croatian
army liberation operations, on the basis of Croatian and
international legal provisions.
Racan agreed that some parts of the indictment were unacceptable
for Croatia. The government has good arguments to challenge the
indictment against Gotovina, provided he turns himself in, he
added.
"Those trying to do that (challenge the indictment) by undercover
deals, disregarding the tribunal, are harming Croatia, undermining
its credibility and good political rating," he said.
Racan and Sanader have opposing views of whether Croats live better
today than in 2000, before the last change of government.
Although the PM agreed that not enough had been done during his term
to raise living standards, he said that headway had been made,
notably in the granting of loans to citizens at significantly lower
interest. The standard of living has gone up but so have citizens'
wishes, he asserted.
Racan went on to say that under his cabinet, salaries had gone up
seven percent annually while costs had dropped by four percent, and
that gross domestic product had been constantly growing.
Sanader, on the other hand, said it would be risky not to change the
government since citizens today lived worse, prices had risen
faster than salaries, and citizens' purchase power had tumbled by
nine percent.
According to Sanader, the growth of the external debt, which has
reached US$21 billion, is among the incumbent government's biggest
"sins".
Racan reiterated that part of the debt was inherited and part was
due to the dollar-euro exchange difference. He stressed that the
government had incurred $1.6 billion of debts, while $3.3 billion
was the sum incurred by banks.
Racan and Sanader agreed the upcoming pre-election campaign should
be dignified, without harsh words or speeches characterised by
hatred.
(hina) ha sb