NEW ZAGREB MAYOR ANNOUNCES CONTINUITY IN WORK OF CITY AUTHORITIES

ZAGREB, Feb 28 (Hina) - The newly-elected Zagreb mayor, Vlasta Pavic, has said she will support continuity in the work of the city government, "which requires a fast pace and the engagement of all". The Zagreb City Assembly today elected Pavic Zagreb mayor with a majority of votes. The new mayor, who is a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was supported at today's session of the City Assembly by the Croatian People's Party (HNS), which was satisfied that the matter had been resolved, and expressed confidence they would be able to find joint solutions regarding the establishment of the city government in cooperation with the new mayor. Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) councillors said they could not support Pavic because of the circumstances in which she was elected and called her election "a transitional solution". Councillors of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) and the Croatian True Revival (HIP) were of a similar opinion. The opposition councillors said Pavic was an extension of former mayor Milan Bandic and expressed doubt that agreement on the establishment of the city government could be reached. Councillor Zdravko Tomac said the SDP wanted its coalition with the HNS to survive, so the party could contribute to the stabilisation of political relations in the entire country. "The coalition now has to establish a city government which will not be called yours or ours but our joint one," Tomac said. (hina) sb rml