Sanader rejected interpretations, which he believed came from the SDP, that the recent adoption by the European People's Party (EPP) of a resolution supporting Croatia's speedy admission to the EU as a full member was not particularly important and that it was part of the prime minister's self-promotion.
"As a member of the Socialist International, the SDP should put a stronger emphasis on Croatia's ambitions," Sanader said in an interview with Croatian Television on Sunday afternoon.
Sanader said that Croatia would have been admitted to the European Union had the HDZ won the 2000 elections, adding that the six-party coalition had enjoyed great support in Europe at the time and that all doors were open to the then Prime Minister Ivica Racan.
"If I had been the head of government at the time, Croatia would have already been in the EU," Sanader said.
Responding to a comment by the television host that his speech at a protest rally in Split in 2001 did not show his commitment to Europe, Sanader said that his address was a response to the belittling of war veterans by the former government. He stressed that his party had never questioned Croatia's cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal.
The rally was organised by war veterans in protest at the announced arrest and trial of General Mirko Norac for war crimes committed against Serb civilians in the Gospic area.
Sanader once again rejected allegations by Gvozden Flego, a member of the Croatian negotiating team with the EU, that Croatia had provided false data on science and high education. The prime minister said that Flego did damage to Croatia by disseminating false information in the public, and added that "the noises in communication" relating to the EU membership talks were due to approaching parliamentary elections.
Commenting on a note of condolence extended to the family of the recently deceased Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic by Hague tribunal indictees, including Croatian General Ante Gotovina, Sanader said he was surprised and that the move was out of order.