ZAGREB, April 29 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said Tuesday night that parliamentary elections could take place in November this year or at the beginning of next year.
ZAGREB, April 29 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said
Tuesday night that parliamentary elections could take place in
November this year or at the beginning of next year. #L#
"As far as I'm concerned, (elections would take place) possibly not
in October, but November or immediately after New Year's," Racan
told a Croatian Television programme.
He reiterated that the date of the election should be discussed by
the ruling coalition.
"We should jointly decide whether we are to dedicate ourselves to
the electoral campaign which some parties have already begun, or to
fulfilling tasks in relation to bids to join the EU," the PM said.
He added that his party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), still
had not decided whether it would run in the elections independently
or as part of a coalition.
Racan stressed that accession to the EU was his Cabinet's priority
and warned about important tasks which needed to be accomplished,
including the adoption of some 50 laws by the end of the year.
Racan said that next April he expected a positive decision about
Croatia being an official candidate for accession to the EU and that
in 2007 it would become full member.
Speaking about EU's demands which Croatia must fulfil, the prime
minister mentioned refugee return, among other things.
Some in the international community expect the "ethnic panorama" of
12 years ago to be renewed in Croatia, said Racan. He recalled that
there had always been large migrations in this region, in peace-
time and especially in war-time and times of aggression. This
ethnic lay-out cannot be renewed, Racan said, adding that neither
all Serbs would return to Croatia, nor all Croats to Serbia.
The prime minister reiterated Croatia's opting for full
cooperation with the Hague-based international war crimes
tribunal, no matter how difficult that may be. He said several times
that entry into the EU remained the chief goal for Croatia and its
national interest.
Racan did not directly comment on a statement by the president of
the coalition's Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), Zlatko Tomcic, that
he was prepared to become Croatia's prime minister and assume the
responsibility for leading the country.
"I have nothing against such statements, there have always been
several candidates for prime ministers, and it is a good thing that
there are several of them now," Racan said briefly in reply to a
question relating to Tomcic's statement given to the "Vecernji
list" daily.
In the interview, Tomcic said that his party was prepared to assume
by itself responsibility for the country and that, if the people
gave the most votes to the HSS, he would be premier.
Racan also said that he would most probably attend the Labour Day
celebration in Maksimir Park in Zagreb.
(hina) lml sb