HSLS: HDZ WRONGFULLY QUOTES POPE IN PROMOTIONAL LEAFLET

ZAGREB, Dec 29 (Hina) - The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) on Wednesday requested the Ethics Commission, in charge of following the upcoming parliamentary election, to warn the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and its member Mate Granic that sending promotional leaflets to the addresses of Croatian citizens of December 23, 1999, was in contravention of the Election Ethics Code. Granic's message, the purpose of which is HDZ's electoral promotion, includes a statement by Pope John Paul II given in a completely different context, the HSLS claims, calling on the HDZ to stop sending the leaflet until the disputed message is removed from it. Among other statements, the HDZ message also reads: "Consider carefully the many rash promises, made by many in the pre-election time. Remember the Pope's message to Croats of last year: 'Do not trust those who promise easy solutions.'" The HSLS believes that using the Holy Father's message for electoral promotion purposes, especially in a completely different context, constitutes a grave violation of ethical norms, which all participants in the election have to respect. It is obvious that the Holy Father did not give the message with the aim to support the HDZ or any other political party in the upcoming elections, the HSLS said in a statement. The HSLS has objected to HDZ's behaviour also with Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic and the Croatian Bishops' Conference. (hina) mm rml