SANADER TAKES OVER OFFICE FROM OUTGOING PM RACAN

ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - Croatia's new Prime Minister Ivo Sanader took over his office from the outgoing Prime Minister Ivica Racan at the government building in Zagreb on Tuesday.#L# "I am happy that this ceremony is taking place in circumstances which are good for Croatia - Croatia is a stable country both economically and politically, and I believe that my government has contributed to that," Racan said. He said he hoped that the new government would preserve and develop achieved democratic standards. He wished the new government success in doing its job. "Continue the good things that we did, try to complete the tasks whose implementation has started successfully, and try to set right or do all over again what we did not do well," he said. Prime Minister Ivo Sanader thanked the outgoing government for its work, especially with regard to attempts to draw closer to the EU. The new government will continue on that path, we hope to receive from Europe a positive answer (to Croatia's membership application) in the first half of next year, and we will make efforts to have the date of the start of accession talks determined, Sanader said. He agreed that on the internal political front, political and macroeconomic stability were vital for the country's future progress and prosperity. Sanader and Racan completed the transfer of authority in the presence of their closest associates - the new and outgoing Deputy Prime Ministers, Jadranka Kosor and Andrija Hebrang, and Slavko Linic and Goran Granic respectively, as well as a former minister without the portfolio, Gordana Sobol. Racan gave the new prime minister and government members reports on important issues and projects his government was dealing with, as well as minutes from all government sessions. After the ceremony, the new and former prime ministers wished all the best to all citizens on the occasion of the Christmas and New Year holidays. (Hina) rml sb