TUDJMAN GUARANTEES TO EUCD DELEGATION THAT WAR WON'T START

ZAGREB, March 1 (Hina) - Vice-President of the European Union of Christian Democrats, Wim van Velsen, told a news conference today that his delegation had decided to recommend admitting the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) to full membership in the EUCD. HDZ has had observer status in the EUCD since 1991. "Our delegation will firmly back this recommendation," van Velsen said, adding that the HDZ since last August had fulfilled the conditions set by the EUCD Council. "These included restructuring HDZ from a movement into a party and introducing secret ballots at elections for party president," he said. But the EUCD delegation was "most concerned about and interested in what would happen when UNPROFOR left Croatia." "After more than seven hours of talks with Messrs. Tudjman and Granic, we realised that they were seeking a peaceful solution to the problem of the occupied areas and that they did not want war," van Velsen said. "President Tudjman has given us guarantees that there won't be any war and that the minorities' problems will be resolved," he said. Van Velden also referred to "good talks" with some of the Opposition parties. He was surprised by these parties' positive attitude to HDZ being admitted to EUCD as a full member, but they told him that this would strengthen Croatia's links to the European Union and would be an important step in developing democracy in Croatia. (hina) mm as sd 011758 MET mar 95