SKARE-OZBOLT SPEAKS AT COMMEMORATIVE SESSION OF HDZ PRESIDENCY

ZAGREB, Dec 11 (Hina) - Dear party colleagues, due to the heaviness and tragedy of this day, I can barely utter these words; the president of the Republic of Croatia and founder of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Franjo Tudjman has passed away, Deputy President of the HDZ, Vesna Skare-Ozbolt commenced her speech at a commemorative session of the HDZ presidency on the occasion of the death of Croatian President and HDZ President, Franjo Tudjman. In the past ten years, Skare-Ozbolt recalled, Dr. Franjo Tudjman together with his people and his Croatian Democratic Union, experienced the greatest and most significant year in Croatia's history. While I am trying to collect my thoughts and recall that which is significant, scenes come to mind of the most important events of the past decade. We recall the initial days of the party and the battle for its affirmation, the first elections, the convening of the first democratic Sabor, the decision on disassociation, the beginning of the Homeland War, international recognition, Croatia's reception to the United Nations, the Flash and Storm actions, the Train of Freedom and the Train for Vukovar. Behind all these successes, was President Franjo Tudjman with his party, the Croatian Democratic Union. In keeping with his deeds for his nation, the president of our party and the first president of the modern Croatia will be incorporated amongst the greatest statesmen and politicians of our time. He knew very well how to hear the pulse of his people and always tried to realise its yearning and desires. He was aware that without having an organised political force, without a party, he could not change the already determined relation of power, of which the Croatian people was one of the greatest victims in 20th century Europe. By creating the Croatian Democratic Union, he created a force which together with him, knew how to bring sound evaluations of the until then Croatian history and finally successfully change its flow. This was a vision prophetically inspired and brought to reality. This was a grand and at the time when it began almost unrealisable, illusionary historical project. As a historian, the president however, knew what was at the root of Croatia's turmoils and calamities - Croatia's enviousness and disharmony. As such, he put the party he had created, on firm standing based on national self-awareness with a programme based on Croatian unity and statehood as the founding ideal which was to gather all Croat layers and levels of society. With this programme, he successfully united the Croatian sons and daughters who until then had been separated or were burdened with mutual hate. He called them all under the same flag, not taking regard for whom or where they were before, but whether they were prepared to accept the idea of Croatian reconciliation and unity within a programme of statehood. He was a man of co-operation, always keeping the door open to everyone for whom Croatia was above everything. As such the HDZ was always Croatian and democratic, established as a union of conscious and free people who wished to mutually get along, supplement each other and co-operate with everyone and when need be, be servile to joint interests and objectives. The HDZ, established on all positive forces and detriments of Croatian history and its greats until then - in whose honour the square, where we have met on this forlorn day, was named - was the expression of the heart and mind of the Croatian people; the heart which finally desired to conquer that so desired, freedom; and mind, which through Franjo Tudjman found it genial expression and Croatia dream and transformed it into an undeniable reality. In order to be able to battle and find the way through many traps and labyrinths of world politics, Franjo Tudjman together with his Croatian Democratic Union, as the crux of Croatia's genius of mind and heart, found and cleared the path for Croatia's freedom. He was aware of the unfavourable reality however, more than anything, he had faith in his people. With the growth of our freedom, so our dignity too rose. Our voice was heard more often and our words were taken to heart. The Croatian Democratic Union, headed by its president, was the creator, leaning post and force with which the Croatian people passed through the Pillars of Hercules of the past and horrific and irrepetable grand Croatian decade. He did not give in to illness, struggling until the end and virtually at the end of his strength, he went to Rome to open the grand exhibition of our history and there once again met with the Holy Father, whom he valued so much. Today, he has joined the pantheon of Croatian heroes, greats and martyrs to whom, prior to his unreturnable confinement to hospital, paid honour on the feast of All Saints' Day. Unfortunately, he came short of the turn of the third millennium which he so much wanted to enter with his people. God's providence, which from our human perspective, we sometimes cannot comprehend, replaced this desire of his with something, we believe to be better - with eternity. We remain. We remain to complete the work, Franjo Tudjman began. Sound foundations have been laid, the house has been built on a rock. Today we have our Croatia. Now we are left with that, that he always used to say: build it according to your will, the way you want it. He taught us, reminded us, repeatedly directed us towards freedom, independence and security for the Croatian state and to never let it out of our hands, to be ourselves in our own, to be our own lords and creators of our own future and fate. We have a Croatia. It is now in our hands. The president fulfilled his promises to the end. With that legacy, we continue his path. Goodbye, dear president, said deputy president of the HDZ, Vesna Skare-Ozbolt concluding her speech. (hina) sp