Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ZAGREB435
2006-04-03 13:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

HDZ: PARTY CONGRESS HIGHLIGHTS EURO CREDENTIALS

Tags:  PREL PGOV HR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2648
PP RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVB #0435 0931350
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031350Z APR 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5955
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000435 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE - ENGLISH, BELL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR
SUBJECT: HDZ: PARTY CONGRESS HIGHLIGHTS EURO CREDENTIALS

REF: A. ZAGREB 233


B. ZAGREB 159

C. ZAGREB 01

D. 05 ZAGREB 1844

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000435

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE - ENGLISH, BELL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR
SUBJECT: HDZ: PARTY CONGRESS HIGHLIGHTS EURO CREDENTIALS

REF: A. ZAGREB 233


B. ZAGREB 159

C. ZAGREB 01

D. 05 ZAGREB 1844


1. SUMMARY AND COMMENT: The ruling Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ) used its 10th biennial party convention on April 1 in
Vukovar to highlight its progress in bringing the country
closer to Europe and EU membership. With leadership
elections not due for another two years, this "reporting"
congress instead served as a platform for Prime Minister and
party president Ivo Sanader to pat himself on the back with
one hand and poke a sharp stick at his political opponents
with the other. Sanader cashed in on his ties to the
European People's Party (EPP),hosting EPP president Wilfred
Martens at the convention and accepting video messages of
support from EPP-affiliated prime ministers of EU member
states.


2. The party chose the Vukovar venue not only as a symbol of
Croatia's Homeland War but also as a message to residents of
Eastern Slavonia that the HDZ has not abandoned them to the
right-wing forces of Branimir Glavas (ref A). The convention
sparked sharp reactions from opposition parties and raised
political temperatures closer to campaign level, signifying
both an informal start to the long march to parliamentary
elections expected in November 2007 and a final skirmish
before four local by-elections on April 9 (septel). END
SUMMARY AND COMMENT.

REACHING OUT TO PARTNERS, SLAPPING BACK AT OPPONENTS
-------------- --------------


3. Some 3500 HDZ delegates reasserted party unity and
absolute support for PM Sanader and his government. In his
speech, Sanader stood by his 2003 election promise that his
government would reduce taxes and unemployment and raise the
living standard. He also promised specific infrastructure
projects to Slavonia in a bid to shore up local support.
Responding to criticism from the opposition earlier in the
week, Sanader said that Croatia would now been in the EU had
he become the Prime Minister in 2000 instead of his
predecessor Ivica Racan of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
At the same time, Sanader singled out the center-right
Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) (ref B) and the right-wing
Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) (ref D) as desirable coalition
partners.


4. In addition to slamming his domestic opponents, Sanader
criticized the European left, too, for thinking "they are the
only ones to know what democracy and Europe are about,"
adding that there would not be a European Union without the
center-right parties. EPP president Wilfred Martens of
Belgium addressed the convention and strongly supported the
HDZ and its pro-European policies. He said he believes
Croatia will be ready to take part in the 2009 elections for
the European Parliament.

OPPOSITION REACTS WITH VENOM, ANALYSTS WITH A YAWN
-------------- --------------


5. Center-left political parties did not let Sanader's
statements in Vukovar go unanswered. Vesna Pusic of the
Croatian People's Party (HNS) -- a partner in the former
Racan government -- recalled Croatia's isolation after the
last HDZ government and said the country would now "lag
behind Ukraine" had Sanader won power in 2000.
Vice-President of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Zeljka
Antunovic went at least a step further: she accused Sanader
of "trading" Croatian regions of Istria and Dalmatia for the
support of Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, alluding to the
surrender of those regions to fascist Italy in WWII by
then-Croatian Ustasha leader Ante Pavelic. Antunovic charged
that "concessions" to Italians included Sanader's acceptance
of more liberal allocation of Italian citizenship to Croatian
citizens as well as Italian demands for the purchase of
Croatian real estate under privileged conditions.
Independent analysts described the HDZ gathering as "grey and
boring" although somewhat "kitschy" in its promotion of PM
Sanader as unquestionable leader.
FRANK