HDZ SUPPORTS PROBE INTO EMIGRANTS' DONATIONS AFFAIR

ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) supports all acts which may shed light on disputed donations by Croatian emigrants for Croatia's defence, the party's president, Ivo Sanader, told a news conference on Thursday, commenting on a request by the State Prosecution's Office that the HDZ be forbidden to use the funds placed on the account of a party's foundation. #L# If there is even a shred of suspicion of fraud committed using the emigrants' money which came into Croatia at the beginning of the 1990s, there is no doubt that the HDZ will give its full support to institutions of the rule of law so that the entire truth is discovered, Sanader said. After the investigations are completed, the HDZ will profit because the assessments and accusations will have been proven to be across- the-board and unfounded, Sanader added. He announced that the HDZ would adamantly oppose all such accusations and attempts to criminalise the party, the first Croatian president, Franjo Tudjman, and his family. He stressed that the functioning of the rule-of-law must be separated from a political struggle. After Tudjman's death, the then HDZ presidency decided that funds in the foundation be frozen pending a final political decision about how the funds will be used. Sanader said he was, therefore, surprised that the interest on time deposits had been used without the knowledge of the party leadership, and would inform the party's main committee about it. Sanader dismissed Pasalic's claims that the issue at hand was a campaign by the incumbent government and a part of the HDZ against him. he reiterated he had no intention to enter public polemics with members of the party. Sanader announced that the money sent by Croatian emigrants, placed on the foundation's parallel account, would be placed into the government budget and used for the scholarships of pupils and students, children of Croatian Homeland war veterans. (hina) lml sb