GRANIC ADDRESSES FOURTH HDZ CONVENTION

( Editorial: --> 3720 ) ZAGREB, Feb 22 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) shall fully and in the best possible way answer the next great historic challenge, of Croatia in Europe and Europe in Croatia, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said Saturday in his address at the Fourth General Convention of the ruling HDZ. "The HDZ will answer that task by clearly and firmly directing the state on its path to Europe", Granic said, adding this was the "supreme strategic national and state interest." The HDZ has never nor will it ever forget or betray the national interest and shall not do it on the way to Europe either, Granic pointed out. He said the institutional approach to the European Union and other integrations, and ever closer connections with the NATO, were an "act of historic importance." "To achieve that goal we have to continue strengthening our democratic structure, the market economy, the rule of law, the inciting of human and minority rights, and the stimulation of a new economy development cycle", Granic said, adding this was the shortest and only way leading to united Europe. Granic pointed out the HDZ, as a people's party with a strong social streak, was very similar to European parties with which it cooperated very closely since the beginning. He especially mentioned German Christian democrats, the Austrian people party, Bavarian social Christians, and the French Assembly for the Republic. The foreign guests of the fourth HDZ party convention include representatives of the German CSU and the CDU, the European Union of Christian Democrats, the Forza Italia movement, the French Assembly for the Republic, the Austrian People's Party, and the Hungarian Democratic Forum. Of Croatian parties, the invitation to attend was accepted only by the Croatian Christian Democratic Union, the Croatian Party, and the Croatian Conservative Party. (hina) ha jn 221203 MET feb 98