SDP/HSLS COALITION HOLDS PRE-ELECTORAL RALLY IN VARAZDIN

VARAZDIN, Dec 14 (Hina) - Croatia's Social Democratic Party- Croatian Social Liberal Party (SDP/HSLS) coalition on Tuesday held a pre-electoral rally in the northern town of Varazdin. "We realise the great responsibility, we do not look to the past, we are aware of the situation we are living in and that the winners at (impending parliamentary) elections will have to do a big job for Croatia's prosperity and new jobs," SDP's Ivica Racan said. He reminded there were 333,000 unemployed in Croatia. "This must change," he stressed because, he added, the number of the unemployed was nearing that of the employed and those aged between 20 and 24 were the most numerous among those out of work. The new government will focus on development, new jobs, and the creation of conditions for the safe inflow of foreign capital, Racan said. He added the new government and parliament would have to show greater solidarity with the people's majority, without privileges and with lower salaries. The new government will also fight corruption, crime, and political correctness, Racan said. "Tonight's rally showed that the Croatian people is ready, after bidding farewell to President Tudjman in a dignified manner, by acknowledging all of his merits for the creation of the Croatian state, to choose change," said Drazen Budisa of the HSLS. "We have achieved the Croatian state, but the creation of a welfare state is only at the beginning," he said and reminded Croatia was behind Euro-Atlantic integration without which, he pointed out, no major problem could be solved. "We can, wish and want what is better, and to create a modern, social, and liberal country," Budisa said. Zdravko Tomac said the SDP/HSLS coalition could and would build a different Croatia which he said needed a much higher standard, a morality, and the elimination of privileges and secret services. (hina) ha