ZAGREB, Nov 30 (Hina) - The Croatian True Revival (HIP) party on Saturday began its first general convention, at which it is to elect its leadership and establish party bodies. Around 1,000 party deputies are attending the
convention.
ZAGREB, Nov 30 (Hina) - The Croatian True Revival (HIP) party on
Saturday began its first general convention, at which it is to elect
its leadership and establish party bodies. Around 1,000 party
deputies are attending the convention. #L#
Party leader Miroslav Tudjman said all conditions had been created
for the HIP to become a respectable parliamentary party at the
upcoming parliamentary election. He said that the party had started
the process of unifying the Opposition to form a coalition which
could replace the current government which, he said, had lost the
voters' support.
The HIP developed from the Association for the Promotion of
Croatian Identity and Prosperity in October last year and its
programme is based on the political and historical legacy of the
first Croatian president Franjo Tudjman, Tudjman said submitting a
report on the party's activities. The reason for the establishment
of the party was the promotion and protection of national interests
based on a programme of modern Croatia. The party, which today has
thousands of members, has branches in 18 counties and more than 100
towns and has established coordinating bodies for Canada and
Germany, Tudjman said.
He criticised the incumbent government for failing to protect
national interests and implementing a policy of "de-
Tudjmanisation" by dismantling state institutions established in
free and democratic Croatia and demonstrating "utter social
insensitivity". The HIP is the only party in Croatia which has the
strength to speak about scenarios which are leading Croatia into
the western Balkans and has the strategy and knows how to protect
national interests, Tudjman added.
Speaking about Croatia's relations with the UN war crimes tribunal,
Tudjman said that by refusing factually unfounded indictments
generals Gotovina and Bobetko were actually advocating a law-based
state and the rule of law because they fought for freedom as a
universal value to which Croatia was entitled. By refusing to
accept untruths in the tribunal's documents, which are contrary not
only to Croatian parliamentary declarations but also to the UN
declarations, they are refusing to accept those untruths being
established as historical facts, he said.
Tudjman said the party's main goals were the territorial
integration of the country, its computerisation and development of
telecommunications, university reform, the development of tourism
and the modernisation of the state administration, reconstruction,
and the creation of social programmes. The current economic crisis
and the crisis of national identity cannot be overcome without the
moral and spiritual renewal of the nation and the promotion of the
national and cultural identity, Tudjman said. The solution of the
national crisis requires a national consensus on three issues: the
stand to the establishment of the Croatian state and the Homeland
War, the relationship to Croats living abroad and relations with
the international community, he said.
Guests at the HIP convention include, among others, Croatian Bloc
leader Ivic Pasalic, a vice-president of the Social Liberals, Josko
Kontic, Christian Democrats' leader Anto Kovacevic, Croatian Party
of Rights vice-president Vladimir Rozic, Democratic Centre
presidency member Nikola Ruzinski, and a vice-president of the
Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ivan Madunic.
(hina) rml