IDS president Ivan Jakovcic said the party had promoted respect for human rights and the rights of minorities since its inception. "That has been the foundation of the IDS' success," he said, adding that after 17 years the IDS "has become one of the recognisable and recognised parties in the European family of political parties".
Jakovcic said Croatia was "one of the most centralised states in Europe" and that after Croatia joined the European Union, the basic task of the IDS would be the realisation of its main political platform, "Istria's regional autonomy".
"We know what the situation in the '90s was like. We know that even today we wouldn't have allies in Croatia regarding the issue of regional autonomy for Istria, but I am confident that when Croatia joins the EU all taboos about regionalism will definitely fall down".
Jakovcic said Istria's citizens would be asked what they thought of regionalism, and that the IDS wanted a high degree of autonomy for the northern Adriatic peninsula.
Speaking of November's parliamentary elections, Jakovcic said the IDS would run alone or in coalition with centre or centre-left parties.
The anniversary was attended by about 700 people.