ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) President Ivo Sanader on Wednesday presented his party's election programme, emphasising that the HDZ was ready to take over responsibility for Croatia.
ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) President
Ivo Sanader on Wednesday presented his party's election programme,
emphasising that the HDZ was ready to take over responsibility for
Croatia. #L#
He said he would like to offer guarantees to citizens that the HDZ
would accomplish objectives it had defined. In this context, he
handed over papers in the form of credit cards with his signature
and the party's objectives to gathered reporters in the HDZ's main
offices in Zagreb.
Sanader said he would like to conclude a sort of covenant with
citizens, promising them lower taxes, enhanced economic growth,
more jobs, better standard and membership in the European Union and
NATO. The HDZ leader also announced the strengthening of
entrepreneurship, agriculture, domestic production, higher
investments in science and technology, and the encouragement of
exports.
Besides, the strongest opposition party promises better care for
the family and pensioners, and more investments in education and
national health service as well as the respect for war veterans.
"We have no illusions that it will be easy, but we can pull Croatia
from a crisis, if people who have know-how and willingness take over
responsibility. We can recognise challenges of the new times and we
shall not come back to the past," Sanader said stressing that his
country deserved a better future.
He announced that the party would make public its programme for the
government after the parliamentary elections.
He said he believed that Croatia could enter the European Union in
2007 and NATO in 2006.
The HDZ leader added that the HDZ's campaign would be fair and the
party would offer "clear criticism rather than insults" about
everything what was wrong.
The HDZ slates in the all constituencies will have the name of Ivo
Sanader at the top of lists. Besides the party's senior officials,
there are a few well-known persons from sports added to the slates.
For instance, the first candidate at the slate for constituency No.
8 will be Lino Cervar, a coach of Croatia's handball team, that won
the last World Championships. A former famous waterpolo player,
Perica Bukic, is also among first candidates at the slate for
constituency No. 9, while a handball player, Slavko Goluza, and a
former basketball player, Franjo Arapovic are HDZ candidates in
constituency No. 1.
Sanader announced that news conferences would be held at 09.30 hrs
each day in the party's main offices in the run-up to the election.
Asked by reporters about abortion and euthanasia, Sanader said the
HDZ did not accept any of them.
(hina) ms