RACAN: RADICAL RESHUFFLE IN MIDDLE OF GOVT MANDATE IMPOSSIBLE

ZAGREB, Feb 25 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Monday a radical reshuffle in the middle of the government's four- year mandate was impossible, and added that in two to three weeks at the latest the results of talks among the ruling coalition's leaders would be known. In an interview in a Croatian Radio broadcast, Racan said he was "a cautious optimist" with regard to concrete agreements on relations in the coalition. He confirmed that he would insist on the five ruling parties reaching programme agreement, which is what the prospects of coalition cooperation would depend on. This, he said, also refers to cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal, the issue which caused certain conflicts (with Drazen Budisa, president of the Social Liberals, HSLS). Nevertheless, Racan hopes this issue is less disputable today than it was last July. It has transpired that the government's concept of solving problems with the Hague tribunal through cooperation rather then entering conflicts is good for national interests, Racan said. The Prime Minister also announced that the position of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) ministers in the government would be discussed some more. He expressed hope that the position of his first deputy Goran Granic was more stable than a couple of weeks ago. (hina) sb rml