ZAGREB, July 11 (Hina) - Negotiations over a model and constitution of the future Croatian government between Prime Minister Designate Ivica Racan and coalition partners have begun and are still under way. This news was confirmed on
Thursday by several reliable sources in the Government's offices and the ruling coalition parties.
ZAGREB, July 11 (Hina) - Negotiations over a model and constitution
of the future Croatian government between Prime Minister Designate
Ivica Racan and coalition partners have begun and are still under
way. This news was confirmed on Thursday by several reliable
sources in the Government's offices and the ruling coalition
parties. #L#
The new-old Prime Minister designate and his political partners are
conducting their negotiations without the presence of the press.
Participants in the negotiations are not willing to release any
details about them.
They did not comment on some estimates that the outline of the new
government could be known early next week.
I would be pleased if this could be achieved, one of the negotiators
responded diplomatically.
During informal discussions, Racan's political partners said they
were not opposed to a smaller government but they stressed that they
did not wish to spend too much time on this issue as it would slow
down vital reforms.
While no one objected to a smaller government there was not one
unified opinion about the number of ministries required in Croatia
and so numbers of 12 to 15 are being mentioned instead of the current
19.
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Wednesday re-appointed the
outgoing Premier Ivica Racan as the PM designate. The latter then
expressed his confidence that he would manage to convene the new
government even before the prescribed 30 days and that he would gain
the Croatian Sabor's confidence.
(hina) sp ms