HDZ PRESIDENCY SAYS PARTY OFFICIALS SUBJECTS OF PUBLIC LYNCHING

ZAGREB, April 19 (Hina) - The presidency of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) supports the strengthening of institutions of law- based states and the discovery of all forms of crime, the largest Opposition party's presidency said in a statement on Wednesday. The HDZ at the same time resolutely objects to political purges and large-scale and unfounded taking to task with no evidence, the statement says. The presidency asserted the formerly ruling party's former and current members and officials had recently been subjected to public lynching in which top state officials were taking part, with strong media backing. It is illegal and ultimately immoral to publish alleged transcripts of late Croatian and HDZ President Franjo Tudjman's conversations, which are characterised by a certain degree of secrecy and confidentiality, the statement says. It is impermissible to abuse those alleged transcripts in the media and public life for political score-settling, the HDZ presidency maintains. The statement adds the custom with archive material in the world is to treat it carefully and fairly, with disclosing possible only after several decades. All that has been published is part of a scheme aimed at breaking the HDZ through the criminalisation of its members and officials, with the intention to wipe it off the Croatian political scene, the statement concludes. (hina) ha mm