SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF HDZ FIRST CONVENTION MARKED IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Feb 23 (Hina) - The marking of the seventh anniversary of the First Convention of the Croatian Democratic Union party (HDZ), at which the issuing of the party's electoral proclamation is expected, began in Zagreb on Sunday afternoon. Taking place in the Vatroslav Lisinski concert hall, where the first convention was held, the celebration gathered the members of all the party's bodies and during a solemn Head Committee session, President of HDZ and the Republic of Croatia, Franjo Tudjman, made an address under the slogan "For the Croatia We Fought For". Upon entering the concert hall, the President was welcomed by HDZ vice-presidents Gojko Susak, Mate Granic, Jadranka Kosor and Franjo Greguric, and secretary-general Ivan Valent. After a five-minute documentary film, "Seven Years of Croatia - Seven Years of HDZ", preceding the session, about 2.000 HDZ members applauded President Tudjman's entrance, on the notes of "Vivat Croatia". The guests of the HDZ session are the representatives of the Croatian Christian Democratic Party, the Party of Christian Democrats of Medjimurje, the Croatian Conservative Party, the Croatian Party, the Croatian National Democratic League and the Istrian Popular Party. (hina) ha jn 231846 MET feb 97