ZAGREB, Sept 13 (Hina) - Commenting on opinion polls indicating a drop in his popularity rating following his apology during a visit to Belgrade on Wednesday, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said it was his duty to work to the
benefit of Croatian citizens and state regardless of his popularity rating.
ZAGREB, Sept 13 (Hina) - Commenting on opinion polls indicating a
drop in his popularity rating following his apology during a visit
to Belgrade on Wednesday, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said it
was his duty to work to the benefit of Croatian citizens and state
regardless of his popularity rating. #L#
"I did not limit my apology to any nation, nor to any specific period
of time," Mesic told reporters after his regular meeting with
citizens at his office on Saturday.
"What I said was 'I apologise to those whom Croatian citizens caused
pain or did harm at any time'," Mesic said. He added there were half-
literate politicians could not understand and were dissatisfied
with his apology.
Asked if cooperation with the IMF should be continued, Mesic said
that one should accept all useful proposals leading to the revival
of Croatian economy, regardless of where they were coming from.
"Our cooperation with the IMF is useful, because their stand
affects the stands of the World Bank and financial institutions.
The decision on the future cooperation with the IMF should be made
by the government and parliament," he said.
Commenting on the external debt, Mesic said that it was high but the
situation was still not alarming if one implemented the necessary
measures, about which the government was expected to state its
position.
The structure of the debt has changed, because it has been incurred
due to investments in development and capital infrastructure
projects, rather than spending, he explained.
(hina) rml