HDZ COMMENTS ON RACAN'S STATEMENT FOR REUTERS, VOICE OF AMERICA

ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) on Friday evening reacted to a statement by the Prime Minister and president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ivica Racan, who earlier that day told Reuters and Voice of America "that Croatia's bid to join the European Union would suffer should the main opposition party, the conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), come to power in November 23 elections". #L# "With his statement to Voice of America and Reuters, Ivica Racan unfortunately continued the practice which he started during his visit to London when he said that Croatia's voters will jeopardise the country's joining the EU and when this statement was criticised by the public," the HDZ said in a statement. "Ivica Racan accuses the HDZ of conducting an anti-European policy," the statement said, adding that best way to dismiss such claims was "the HDZ election platform which includes Croatia's integration with the EU, and particularly numerous activities of party president Ivo Sanader". The HDZ reminded that Sanader held talks with the current and future chairmen of the EU, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, and other respected European politicians. All of the party activities, the HDZ says, are aimed at gaining the support of senior officials for Croatia's joining the EU as soon as possible -- by 2007. (hina) it