SPLIT, Oct 10 (Hina) - Social Democratic Party (SDP) president and Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Friday the SDP "has achieved a lot but not enough" in this term.
SPLIT, Oct 10 (Hina) - Social Democratic Party (SDP) president and
Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Friday the SDP "has achieved a
lot but not enough" in this term. #L#
Answering questions at an SDP rally in Split, Racan said the
Croatian Democratic Union could not win the November parliamentary
election.
Speaking of this government's achievements, Racan mentioned the
reduced unemployment rate, the increased gross domestic product,
more social rights and higher salaries, the construction of
highways, and a better reputation abroad.
"Over the past four years the SDP, as the leading party in the
coalition, shouldered the burden often and too much, but that was
expected of it," Racan said, adding that this had been "the only way
to resolve some issues and keep the government stable".
Speaking of pre-election vows his cabinet had failed to keep, Racan
said failure to punish plunder in privatisation processes was the
result of the fact as legalists, they could do nothing since the
"plunder was carried out in line with the law, although a bad one".
As for the highway connecting Zagreb and Split, he said the
government would keep the promised deadline, while the highway from
Split south to Dubrovnik would be finished by 2008.
One of the key issues for Croatia is to stop the devastation of the
coastline, Racan said, adding that the recent decision to proclaim
an ecological and fishing zone in the Adriatic was an important step
in that direction.
Deputy PM Slavko Linic said this government had tried and failed to
break down red tape barriers but would succeed in the next term.
The rally "Tell Us Everything" was attended by about 600 people,
including Luis Alaja, secretary-general of the Socialist
International, which is holding a congress in Split.
(hina) ha