GRANIC SAYS HIS PARTY DOESN'T TRUST GOVT WHOSE PREMIER HAS RESERVATIONS TOWARDS IT

ZAGREB, March 22 (Hina) - The Democratic Centre (DC) does not trust the reformed coalition government which Prime Minister Ivica Racan first nominated and then expressed reservations towards at the moment the new deputy prime minister and two ministers were appointed, DC president Mate Granic told reporters on Friday. Granic criticises Racan's failure to firmly support the new composition of the government which he proposed in parliament yesterday. Asked to comment on the conduct of the members of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) who were elected into the government, Granic said the DC would have never agreed to enter the government under such conditions, "not even if the post of deputy prime minister was at stake". Nevertheless, Granic's objections regarding last night's vote of confidence in the government were directed mostly at the prime minister. "Racan is introducing changes unknown in the democratic world. Negotiations about such issues are tough and reservations are voiced elsewhere, too, but up until the moment when the prime minister proposes the government," Granic said, adding that as a former foreign minister with a long career he did not know about any similar case in democratic practice. The DC president said this was the reason why their only parliamentary deputy left yesterday's session during the vote. "One cannot seek the Opposition's support for a government towards which the prime minister himself has reservations," Granic said calling the vote of confidence in the government a "farce". The DC did not have any reservations towards the newly appointed deputy prime minister Drazen Budisa or the new ministers Hrvoje Vojkovic and Mario Kovac, he said. The party believes the government is more a confederate than coalition government and that it is unserious and unstable. Commenting on a statement by Defence Minister Jozo Rados that the Croatian army would not be able to withstand an attack by any modern army, Granic said the statement was scandalous and Rados should resign over it. Commenting on the current crisis in Rijecka Banka, caused by an embezzlement case, Granic said it was similar to the 1999 crisis in Dubrovacka Banka, as both crises were caused by embezzlement and both banks were rehabilitated by the state. He said the DC opposed the financial restructuring of Rijecka Banka by the state. (hina) rml