SPLIT, Aug 23 (Hina) - Senior officials of the opposition Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) held a news conference in the seaport of Split on Saturday, commenting on Croatia's external debt, this summer's bushfires, and other
current issues.
SPLIT, Aug 23 (Hina) - Senior officials of the opposition Croatian
Social Liberal Party (HSLS) held a news conference in the seaport of
Split on Saturday, commenting on Croatia's external debt, this
summer's bushfires, and other current issues. #L#
Speaking of the external debt, HSLS president Drazen Budisa said
that if it continued to grow at the rate of the past three, Croatia
was in danger of going bankrupt. The debt amounted to US$9 million
three and a half years ago, when the last parliamentary elections
were held, whereas today the figure has doubled, he said.
According to Budisa, a bigger problem than the overindebtedness is
the fact that money is not being spent on production.
The HSLS supports the latest decisions made by central bank
governor Zeljko Rohatinski because it believes they are a way to
alleviate the negative balance of payments and boost exports,
Budisa said.
Speaking about the upcoming parliamentary election and possible
coalition partners, he said the party would define its stands in
mid-September at the earliest after negotiations within the HSLS
and with other parties.
HSLS vice president Josko Kontic accused the coalition government
of this summer's disastrous bushfires along the coast, saying "the
authorities resorted to manipulation in attempts to shift
responsibility onto others".
Budisa also spoke about Croatia's negotiations with Bosnia and
Herzegovina on the status of the southern Croatian seaport of
Ploce. He said negotiations with the other side should be held on
commercial grounds because the port was Croatian territory, and
suggested Bosnian companies should be offered privileges in line
with free market standards.
(hina) ha