HSS REACTS TO PRESIDENT TUDJMAN'S SPEECH ON POLICE DAY

ZAGREB, Oct 2 (Hina) - The Presidency of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) issued a statement Saturday concerning Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's speech on Police Day and St Michael Day, on September 29. In a statement forwarded to Hina, the HSS Presidency stressed that the President had "harshly violated" the necessary democratic atmosphere which should be present ahead of free, democratic elections. In a part of his speech where Tudjman said "We are in the election year and elections are important, not so much for the sake of authorities, but for the sake of preserving Croatia's freedom and independence", Tudjman claims the state is tied to one political option as the only right solution, the one which is in power, the HSS said. To the President's words that ""We must sever the bonds between the external and internal antagonists of Croatia, the Presidency responded that "there are political opponents, not antagonists". His words that " "I am against persecutions, but I do advocate that they be told that we have insight into their activities and that sooner or later, they will be called to account," stirs surprise and discomfort in a country where not one political activist of the former regime is called to account in the spirit of "reconciliation", the statement said. (hina) lml