HDZ CANDIDATE HOLDS RALLY IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Jan 21 (Hina) - The candidate of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) for the presidential election, Mate Granic, on Friday evening held a rally in the downtown Zagreb. Granic told gathered that although he is in favour of the parliamentary democracy he did not want to be a ceremonial president but would advocate the protection of territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state. The HDZ candidate said he would not prevent the Government from performing its duties but would help promote necessary reforms. If elected President he would not neglect Croatia's war veterans and others who suffered in the Homeland War and who created the modern Croatian state. He reiterated he would advocate the set-up of the law-based state, social justice and influx of foreign capital. Granic promised to help include Croatia in NATO and the European Union during his tenure of the President. He also said he would stimulate the Government to settle the debt toward retirees within a sensible time limit. He would prefer a settlement of the problem of unemployment rather than rehabilitation of bankrupt firms, stressing that the youth are the basic concern of the state. Speaking of his previous work Granic said that "during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina he did not avoid but held negotiations and completed them.". He pointed to his credit for the signing of the Split Declaration and other agreements as well as his credit in the peaceful reintegration of eastern Croatia. Despite difficulties and pressure I won my battles contrary to other presidential candidates, Granic claimed. A high-ranking HDZ official, Vesna Skare Ozbolt, addressed the rally saying that it is only Mate Granic to be able to lead Croatia toward necessary revival. (hina) ms