SANADER: VOTERS GIVE ORDER TO GIVE HDZ MANDATE TO FORM GOVT.

ZAGREB, Nov 23 (Hina) - Commenting on preliminary unofficial results of Sunday's parliamentary vote in Croatia, Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader Ivo Sanader said the results were a clear order of the voters to give the HDZ the mandate to form the new government. #L# These are not the final results, they may be slightly more favourable, party leader Ivo Sanader told reporters at the party's election headquarters. The HDZ is the only unquestionable, big election winner and we consider this an order of Croatian citizens to the strongest and most stable party to finally move Croatia forward, Sanader said. Commenting on the allocation of the mandate to form the new government, Sanader said it was logical for the president of the republic to hold consultations first with the leader of the strongest party, and voiced confidence that he would meet Mesic very soon to discuss the matter. Commenting on cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague and the announcement of new indictments, Sanader said the HDZ would act in the most responsible manner with regard to that matter. Croatia will fulfil its international obligations and we want to be very clear and decisive in that area, but we cannot accept some statements such as those in the indictment against General (Ante) Gotovina. The HDZ wants to see Croatia in NATO in 2006 and I believe that goal can be achieved, and in the EU in 2007, which is a very ambitious goal, but one that realistically can be accomplished, Sanader said. Croatian citizens have shown that they appreciate responsible state policy, Sanader said, adding that his priority was the improvement of living standards. (hina) rml sb