NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CITIZENS' INITIATIVE PRESENTED

ZAGREB, July 10 (Hina) - The Alliance for Peace and Justice on Thursday presented the programme of the National Council for the Citizens' Initiative, which should become an alternative to the programmes of the opposition and the incumbent government in Croatia. #L# The National Council is a new body in Croatian politics offering a project of Croatia as a law-based, ethical, and socially aware state, a concept the incumbent political structure cannot implement, Alliance president Ivan Grubisic told a news conference. Grubisic said the Alliance had been joined in the project by the Liberal Party (LS), the Social Democratic Action of Croatia, some minor parties, and some non-governmental, peace, and war veterans associations. Ivo Banac said his LS, by working on the project, wanted to bolster liberal democracy in Croatia. "National Council members will go to the polls but the National Council itself will not run independently in the election. It will support the parties and candidates it thinks are in keeping with our views," said Grubisic. He added that the Church should regard politics as a responsible civic duty the purpose of which was the common good, instead of getting involved in politicking and using politics to keep its privileges. (hina) ha sb