HDZ PREPARING TO STAND FOR ELECTION IN DANUBIAN AREA

OSIJEK, Jan 8 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) committee of Osijek-Baranja County on Wednesday forwarded a letter to the U.N. Transitional Administrator, Jacques Klein, saying that "every political party should have equal conditions for the promotion of their programmes and political views" at an election scheduled for March 16. That was what the HDZ wanted in the Osijek County ten municipalities and one town of which were under Klein's administration, said the letter. "Most of citizens of the municipalities and the town, who are non-Serbs, have been expelled and lived outside their hometown and villages for six years. However, there are still Croats and other non-Serbs who have remained in the area. It also does not mean that all Serbs would refuse to vote for our party, if it is given the opportunity to say what it wants and what it offers to all citizens in the county, and thus to those who accept the Croatian state and its laws," the letter said. "Therefore we expect that you will enable our election headquarters members, HDZ county and municipal committees' officials to have a free and unimpeded access to residents in the area under your administration as well as to the local media," said the letter signed by the Osijek County HDZ committee's head, Adam Mestrovic. (hina) 081431 MET jan 97