MESIC: WE SHALL REACH AGREEMENT AND PUT A STOP TO CRISIS

ZAGREB, March 6 (Hina) - Croatian president Stjepan Mesic said Wednesday the ruling coalition will reach an agreement and put a stop to the government crisis. Mesic said he had spoken to some government members and believes an agreement will be reached, ending the government crisis. He was speaking at the opening of a Centre for Addiction Smoking Prevention. If the government fails to reach a consensus aimed at solving the crisis, he and the government will have to convene and see what needs to be done, the president said. The coalition itself will decide how useful Drazen Budisa is to the government for the next two years, Mesic said. Budisa is president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party. The president stressed that results measure success in politics. He confirmed published reports that he had met Ivic Pasalic, a candidate for president of the Croatian Democratic Union party, but dismissed allegations that he had granted him amnesty. Numerous illegal acts occurred at the time Pasalic was an advisor to the former president Mesic said. According to transcripts obtained from the former president's office,he added, it is evident Pasalic had initiated many acts himself, but crimes are under the jurisdiction of the police and the State Prosecution. Mesic said it is not up to him to say who should be prosecuted and he cannot accuse anybody until the person is convicted. He added that he does not consider other party members as enemies, but people with opinions different to his. (hina) lml sb