ZAGREB, March 25 (Hina) - President Stjepan Mesic told Croatian Radio on Monday the government was too slow in solving some issues, and that what had been done in the past two years was only the foundation for what had to be done in
the next couple of years. Mesic said court cases were being solved too slow, which obstructed the functioning of the whole system. Fairness has been endangered as many scandals and irregularities in privatisation have not been settled, he added. Mesic urged resolving the biggest problem, unemployment, adding that more than 414,000 people without jobs was cause for concern. He also urged attracting capital for production and introducing new technologies. Mesic recalled his proposal for the establishment of customs free zones, which he said had stepped up employment in some countries. These zones would provide several dozen thousand people with jobs by the end of the year, he added. Respon
ZAGREB, March 25 (Hina) - President Stjepan Mesic told Croatian
Radio on Monday the government was too slow in solving some issues,
and that what had been done in the past two years was only the
foundation for what had to be done in the next couple of years.
Mesic said court cases were being solved too slow, which obstructed
the functioning of the whole system. Fairness has been endangered
as many scandals and irregularities in privatisation have not been
settled, he added.
Mesic urged resolving the biggest problem, unemployment, adding
that more than 414,000 people without jobs was cause for concern. He
also urged attracting capital for production and introducing new
technologies. Mesic recalled his proposal for the establishment of
customs free zones, which he said had stepped up employment in some
countries. These zones would provide several dozen thousand people
with jobs by the end of the year, he added.
Responding to questions about a recent government crisis, the
President said it had not been a question of dispute about working
principles but personnel issues, and that there had been no
polarisation within the government but within the ruling five
parties. Mesic voiced confidence the personnel changes would lead
to stabilisation and a better functioning of the government.
The President said he did not know about any new indictments from
the Hague war crimes tribunal against Croats. Speaking about the
cases of generals Ante Gotovina and Rahim Ademi, he said they should
have been allowed to defend themselves. Asked if he knew Gotovina's
whereabouts, Mesic said he assumed the general was in Croatia.
Gotovina should have answered to the tribunal's questions and not
listened to the wrong advice of those who, he said, wanted to
promote themselves by competing in their Croathood.
Asked about the recent eviction of Bosnian Croat refugees from the
western Bosnian town of Drvar, who have been arriving in Croatia,
Mesic said the political situation was obviously such that it
prevented them from returning to pre-war homes. Conditions must be
provided, in cooperation with international institutions, to
enable such returns, he said, adding Bosnian Croats were in a very
difficult position as the smallest Bosnian people.
As for the Croatian army's defence readiness, Mesic said the army
was ready to respond to any danger posed to Croatia.
(hina) ha