The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) president Tomislav Karamarko has said that the HDZ isn't, in general, in favour of changing the treaty between Croatia and the Holy See, although the party is aware of the hard times in which the country is now.
As for speculations that during his visit to the Vatican on Monday, Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and his hosts might consider a possibility of revising the sections of the treaty relating to the funds from the state budget designated for the Catholic Church, Karamarko told reporters on Sunday that he would like to see the premier being "rational and moderate" and that his visit would be beneficial to Croatia.
PM Milanovic is visiting the Vatican tomorrow when he will be received by Pope Benedict XVI.
The Croatian premier will hold a meeting with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State and Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, and participate in a round table on the 20 years of diplomatic ties between Croatia and the Holy See. The talks will revolve around the situation in Croatia and the region and Croatia's forthcoming admission to the European Union.
Some media speculate the premier might initiate talks on revising the sections of the Vatican-Croatia treaty concerning the funds from the state budget designated for the Catholic Church.
