BRIEF NEWS BULLETIN IN ENGLISH NO.4856 HINA Zagreb, 6 January 2003

HR-POLITICS-Politika BRIEF NEWS BULLETIN IN ENGLISH NO.4856 HINA Zagreb, 6 January 2003 CROATIAN PM SAYS TIMES OF 'BELT-TIGHTENING' ARE OVERZAGREB, Jan 6 (Hina) - Speaking about what Croatian citizens could expect this year, Prime Minister Ivica Racan told state television on Sunday the times of "belt-tightening" and privation were definitively over and that the standard would grow concurrently with the economy. Croatia is on a good path and there is no cause for pessimism, Racan said in an interview in the prime-time news broadcast. He announced wages this year would be slightly higher, the standard as well, although not as high as citizens would like. Racan said one had to be realistic and that every decision had to be well-considered. Any decision exceeding possibilities brings the country on the verge of an abyss, he said. The premier voiced hope the next parliamentary election would be held in due time. Taking into account the problems and tasks that have yet to be dealt with, Rac