RACAN: PARTNERS SHOULD DIRECTLY CONSULT ME ABOUT DISSATISFACTION

UMAG, July 21 (Hina) - The Croatian prime minister designate, Ivica Racan, said that it would be fair if coalition partners talked with him directly if they believed that there were some problems in bids to set up a new government, instead of complaining about it in the media. #L# He alluded to some media articles in which Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) leaders expressed their dissatisfaction with the course of the establishment of the new cabinet. "I will do my job as the PM designate and very soon inform the public of the proposal for the new government. Only upon reactions to the proposal I will accept the talks. Until then it is all the matter of guesswork," Racan said on Sunday in the coastal town of Umag where he came to watch the final match of the Croatia Open Tournament in tennis to be played by Spaniards Carlos Moya and David Ferrer. Racan said that during his stay in Umag he would not meet HSS President Zlatko Tomcic who also arrived to see the final. He reiterated that the proposal for the new cabinet would be soon known as an extra-ordinary session of the parliament which should take a vote of confidence in the new cabinet is scheduled for the end of next week. Asked by reporters about his talks with the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) head, Ivan Jakovcic, and about the possibilities for the IDS to join the government, Racan responded that the cooperation with the IDS was not questionable. According to him, it is possible to be present in the government in several ways, for instance through joint projects and inclusion in various government bodies. IDS leader Jakovcic said the IDS would not enter the new government, as it was not in the party's primary interest. The interest is to support the government, be a part of a parliamentary majority and create a programme for the progress of Croatia, Jakovcic added. (hina) ms