"I am told that we will lose popularity because of some decisions, but those who say so are mistaken, and I call on those who in the past two years have withdrawn from party activities due to dissatisfaction with our moves, to join us again... because our policy is the only right and possible policy for Croatia. The HDZ leadership and the government are being criticised for changing their opinion, which is not true either because everything we do, we do it in Croatia's interest," Sanader said.
"There is no force that can defend the truth about the Homeland War better than the HDZ," the PM said, adding that he stood behind his statements given at the 2001 rally of support for General Mirko Norac, held in Split.
"Remember how at that time the dignity of Croatian veterans was smeared under (former prime minister Ivica) Racan's leadership, and we raised our voice against it," he added.
"I appeal to all parties to admit that Dr. Franjo Tudjman was a great man because we must not forget our past, but we must look forward. Not because Franjo Tudjman was the HDZ, which he founded, but because he accomplished the party's main objective - the establishment of the Croatian state," Sanader said.
He added that Tudjman's two other important goals were making Croatia part of the European Union and raising the living standards of Croatian citizens, which he said were the party's main objectives today.
Commenting on current events, Sanader dismissed as unnecessary recent debates about the government's decision to base the Regular-Service Shipping Agency in Split. The government has made this decision for the sake of decentralisation and because it wants all parts of Croatia to develop evenly, he said.
"(The shipping company) Jadrolinija is wrong, we will continue to support it as we have been doing so far, but it has to prepare for privatisation and integration with the European Union," Sanader said.
"Today, when Croatian generals stand indicted, there is no force in Croatia that can help them more than we can, and we will help as friends of the court. This, too, is why we have to join the EU so that we can sit at the table where decisions are made, because we have to protect our interests on our own. Croatia must be part of the EU to secure its future," he said.
Commenting on relations with Slovenia, Sanader said that Slovenia was a friendly country with which Croatia had had good relations also in the former federation. "But the border issue is very important, and good neighbourly relations and friendship cannot be bought with territory. I therefore call on Slovenia not to make unilateral moves, and I am speaking now in my capacity as HDZ president and prime minister. Slovenia must be aware that the Racan-Drnovsek agreement is out of the question for Croatia and we call on Slovenia to accept international arbitration."
The government and the HDZ support the Croatian National Bank's position that Ljubljanska Banka should not be allowed to operate in Croatia until it settles the issue of savings deposits of its Croatian clients, Sanader said.