There is a big crisis in Europe and it is being discussed whether the EU will continue to expand or not. Since there is a large number of those who advocate that the EU consist of 27 countries (following the admission of Romania and Bulgaria), we state that the process of enlargement must absolutely include Croatia, Sanader said in an interview with Croatian Radio on Monday.
Asked about recent conflicts between his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the SDP and the latter's accusations that Sanader intended to deliver an unprepared Croatia to the EU, Sanader said that Racan lacked contact and dialogue with similar parties in Europe and was therefore unfamiliar with current developments in Europe.
Croatia is not safe in the current EU enlargement crisis, a lot of work must be done for Croatia to be safe. This has nothing to do with haste, but it does have to do with Croatia seeking its place in the EU, the PM said.
Asked about speculation about the reinstatement of former foreign minister Miomir Zuzul, Sanader said that Zuzul attended a recent convention of the European People's Party in Rome as a member of an HDZ delegation.
Zuzul is definitely one of the most capable Croatian diplomats and we will use his services in international diplomacy when it comes to party diplomacy, he added.
The PM dismissed speculation about early parliamentary elections.
"We won't allow Croatia to slip into instability. We don't need elections to be held every now and then, we have a stable democracy and parliamentary elections will be held in November 2007."
Sanader reiterated that the Komarna-Peljesac bridge linking the southernmost Croatian peninsula with the mainland would be built, that talks about the height of the bridge and the need to avoid unnecessary construction works would be held with Bosnian government representatives.
He said that a group of experts was working on a proposal that would grant Bosnia-Herzegovina the status of the most privileged country in the Ploce port, but also added that Croatia could not give up its sovereignty in the port.
Eighty percent of cargo that arrives in the port is intended for Bosnia-Herzegovina and companies from that country, Sanader recalled.