PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ANTO DJAPIC VISITS OSIJEK

OSIJEK, Jan 18 (Hina) - I did not run in previous presidential elections because I knew that with President Tudjman as a rival no one else would stand a chance of winning the election, Anto Djapic, presidential candidate of the Croatian Party of Rights/Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HSP/HKDU) told an election rally in Osijek on Tuesday. Now that, regrettably, President Tudjman is dead, I believe I stand the same chance as other candidates and in some aspects I even have the advantage, he said. Djapic promised that he would act in line with his clearly defined constitutional powers, if elected president. I will be "the factor of cohesion between the homeland and Croatian emigrants because every Croat is equally important regardless of where he might live." Djapic believes Croatia's admission to European and other international organisations is important, however, it represents a long process. Important preconditions for it are the stability of the state, economic recovery, and the rule of law. Djapic advocates tax privileges, the annulment of Value Added Tax on basic food stuffs, books and school equipment, and the prosecution of any form of economic and other crime. Djapic sees Croatia as a "modern armed force", because, he said, "Milosevic's policy is still strong and poses a threat for Croatia." (hina) rml