HDZ IN CANADA AGAINST BIDS TO CRIMINALISE THIS PARTY AND TUDJMAN

ZAGREB, June 14 (Hina) - A co-ordinating body of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party in Canada on Friday issued a statement saying that it was not at all surprised by the intention of the current Croatian government to again try "to criminalise the HDZ and the first Croatian President, Franjo Tudjman, through a spectacular discovery of the embezzlement of money raised by the Croatian Diaspora." #L# Commenting on the latest media articles about money which Croatian emigrants raised for the country's defence and which ended up in the account of a HDZ foundation, the co-ordinating body said it was not in the least surprised at this intention. The HDZ co-ordinating body, however, is surprised by HDZ President Ivo Sanader's proposal that the contentious fund should be transferred into the state budget. "We believe that the foundation will use the emigrants' money for the promotion of statehood ideas in a more purpose-serving manner than Premier (Ivica) Racan. We therefore forbid anyone to give them (the government) the money, and we ask Sanader to withdraw his proposal, which is detrimental to both the HDZ and Croatia," read the statement signed by Josip Pavicic. (hina) ms