ZAGREB SDP BRANCH: COALITION MUST FUNCTION OR IT WILL BREAK UP

ZAGREB, Feb 2 (Hina) - "The ruling coalition must function or it will break up," the Social Democratic Party (SDP) branch in Zagreb said on Saturday, commenting on events which led to a dispute between the SDP and the Croatian People's Party (HNS) in the Zagreb city authorities. The latest dispute was caused by a proposal on the establishment of a commission to investigate the lawfulness of the work of municipal bodies of authority and public services, presented at a session of the City Assembly on January 31. The proposal on the establishment of the commission was supported by SDP councillors because it is in line with mayor Milan Bandic's request presented at the session of the city leadership of January 24 and not because it was made by the Croatian Bloc, the Zagreb SDP branch said at today's session. "We have explained to our coalition partner HNS that it is impossible to vote against the commission because that would give the Opposition the opportunity to say that we fear the establishment of the commission and its possible findings, and stir suspicion among citizens who expect their housing problems to be solved," the president of the Zagreb SDP, Zdravko Tomac, said. The Zagreb SDP does not want anything else but to establish if there is corruption in the city leadership (as Public Works Minister Radimir Cacic claims), he added. "The SDP cannot accept responsibility if the coalition partner claims that it supports the coalition but uses every opportunity to accuse and vilify us in public, playing into the hands of the Opposition," he said. Tomac claimed that Minister Cacic interfered in the work of the city leadership by criticising the mayor with regard to his decision to allocate funds for the reconstruction of the northern Bosnian town of Derventa and the northern Posavina region. Resigned mayor Milan Bandic said it was time for SDP and HNS representatives in the city leadership to discuss events that happened between January 31, 2001 and January 31, 2002 and see if it was possible to continue cooperation. Bandic also said the SDP did not advocate a new election, however, he added a new election was less expensive than authorities which did not function. (hina) sb rml