Zagreb - Outgoing Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader blamed
the European Union for allowing Slovenia to create a 'lunatic
theatre' to block his country's path to European Union membership,
local media said.
Sanader, who stunningly resigned his post as the premier and the
head of his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) earlier this week, was
referring to a border row over which Slovenia, a EU member state
since 2004, blocked Croatia's accession negotiations.
Speaking Saturday at an HDZ congress at which his deputy Jadranka
Kosor was elected as the new party head, Sanader sent a message to
Slovenia, the western neighbour and former sister-republic in the
Yugoslav federation.
'There will be no sale of Croatian territory. Despite your anti-
European policies of blackmail - you will not succeed,' he said.
'Croatia will join the EU and Slovenia will have to vote for it.'
Sanader also sharply addressed Brussels, asking it to 'end this
blockade, this lunatic theatre Slovenians are trying to create.'
When he resigned, saying he wanted out of politics, and named
Kosor as his successor, Sanader gave no concrete reason for his step,
but hinted at the stalled EU talks as a factor.
Many local observers however said the two-time premier made a
political maneuver to avoid the fallout from the economic meltdown
expected in Croatia in the latter half of the year, after which he
may return.
Kosor, 56, was set to become Croatia's first female prime minister
in a parliament session due to begin Monday.
Your Talkback on this Story