CROATIAN PEOPLES PARTY ACCEPTS COALITION'S AGREEMENT

ZAGREB, March 7 (Hina) - The Croatian Peoples Party (HNS) will accept all eight counts of Wednesday's agreement among presidents of coalition parties if all other parties stay in the coalition and adopt all eight counts, HNS president Vesna Pusic told reporters Thursday. Commenting on today's session of the HNS presidency, Pusic said any change in the coalition demands a new answer. She said HNS believes the coalition must agree on a programme of strategic projects which will be realised during the government's mandate. The government's survival makes it possible to realise projects, Pusic said. The government's strategic projects that HNS advocates are employment, road building, housing construction, new and reconstructed tourist capacities, introducing gas to Dalmacija, and a new financing concept for science and higher education projects. All these projects, HNS believes, are in service of a seven percent interest rate. HNS supports a change in the way the coalition makes decisions, which currently require a simple majority. Decisions should be based on a consensus or, if this is impossible, on a two-thirds majority, said Pusic. Asked whether she believed the coalition would survive, Pusic said she estimates the government will survive. She also said a HNS representative is in the government and a permanent member of the cabinet. If the coalition fails to reach agreement, there will be either a vote of confidence on the government in the parliament or early elections, said Pusic. (hina) np sb