ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - A Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) assembly, which pooled around 1,000 envoys in Zagreb on Saturday, almost unanimously endorsed a report on the ruling coalition party's activities in the past year, and supported
HSS president Zlatko Tomcic. The assembly was welcomed by the leaders of most political parties, including the president of the Social Democrats (SDP), Prime Minister Ivica Racan. The HSS wants to actively participate in the decision-making within the ruling coalition and proposes redefining relations based on the past two years' experience, said Tomcic. He announced the resumption of reforms begun by the coalition government, stepping up development and integration processes, which he said called for support from all partners and consensus within the coalition. Tomcic assessed the insufficiently defined mutual relations had slowed down the performance and reduced the effec
ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - A Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) assembly,
which pooled around 1,000 envoys in Zagreb on Saturday, almost
unanimously endorsed a report on the ruling coalition party's
activities in the past year, and supported HSS president Zlatko
Tomcic.
The assembly was welcomed by the leaders of most political parties,
including the president of the Social Democrats (SDP), Prime
Minister Ivica Racan.
The HSS wants to actively participate in the decision-making within
the ruling coalition and proposes redefining relations based on the
past two years' experience, said Tomcic.
He announced the resumption of reforms begun by the coalition
government, stepping up development and integration processes,
which he said called for support from all partners and consensus
within the coalition.
Tomcic assessed the insufficiently defined mutual relations had
slowed down the performance and reduced the effectiveness of the
coalition. The government must function as a coalition of political
parties and not individuals, he said.
The incumbent authorities' strategic objectives, coming out of the
economic and social crisis, "are definitely taking encouraging
shape, with a more dynamic economic growth, higher solvency and
saving, and the launching of many reforms," said Tomcic.
He added all data indicated that what had been done so far had
created preconditions to make 2002 a year of a more intensive
development and better living standards.
Tomcic commended the work of three HSS ministers, Education
Minister Vladimir Strugar, Crafts Minister Zeljko Pecek, and
Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic.
Welcoming the participants in the HSS assembly, PM Racan said he was
confident the coalition government's past two years in office would
become more visible and yield results.
The acting president of the Social Liberals (HSLS), Jozo Rados,
congratulated the HSS on its high stability in recent years.
Representatives of the other coalition parties also welcomed the
HSS assembly, saying they supported the efforts the HSS was
investing in the bolstering of confidence within the five-party
coalition.
Representatives of the opposition applauded the assembly as well,
with the secretary general of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ),
Joso Skara, stating the HSS and the HDZ enjoyed a good cooperation
in 12 municipalities and seven counties.
The president of the Party of Rights (HSP), Anto Djapic, said the
HSP and the HSS cooperated in a dozen municipalities and enjoyed
correct relations on the state level. Commenting on the serious
rift within the Croatian society, Djapic said the HSS assembly was
important as the HSS, as one of the most stable political parties,
was pointing to the need of overcoming those rifts.
Welcoming the assembly on behalf of the head of state, presidential
advisor Igor Dekanic said the HSS was a factor in the building of
democratic customs and conduct.
The HSS assembly was also applauded by similar parties from
Slovenia, Greece, Sweden, Canada, and Australia.
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