DC PRESENTS ANTI-CORRUPTION PROGRAMME

ZAGREB, April 22 (Hina) - The Democratic Centre (DC) party has drafted a programme for the prevention of corruption as one of the problems cited in the European Commission's 'avis' on Croatia, DC vice-president Josko Moric said at a news conference on Thursday.#L# The DC has significantly contributed to the EC's positive opinion on Croatia's application for EU membership because the avis was conditional on cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal and judiciary reform. Justice Minister and DC president Vesna Skare Ozbolt continues the reform of the judiciary, which was also identified as one of the priorities in the avis, Moric said. He explained that the party's anti-corruption programme was based on the assessment that corruption is seriously blocking the development of small and medium-sized businesses and other forms of entrepreneurship as well as public administration. The DC will call for the establishment of an anti-corruption coalition and propose changes to the legal system organisational changes in the judiciary and the police, he said. In the continuation of Croatia's integration with the EU, the party will also insist that the government work more responsibly and make efforts to find the best solutions to the problems of citizens and society, Moric said. (Hina) rml