ZAGREB, July 30 (Hina) - The struggle against unemployment, the enhancement of the national economy's competitiveness and exports, a cut in the public debt, the acceleration of reforms and the creation of efficient state and public
administration are cited by the Croatian Prime Minister Designate, Ivica Racan, as the five challenges before his new cabinet.
ZAGREB, July 30 (Hina) - The struggle against unemployment, the
enhancement of the national economy's competitiveness and exports,
a cut in the public debt, the acceleration of reforms and the
creation of efficient state and public administration are cited by
the Croatian Prime Minister Designate, Ivica Racan, as the five
challenges before his new cabinet. #L#
On Tuesday morning Racan presented this programme in the
parliament, calling on MPs to vote for confidence in the new
government.
The PM designate announced the continuation of reforms which his
previous cabinet had launched after it had come into office in
January 2000.
Racan promised that during the rest of the term of office, i.e. in
the coming one year and a half, the government would create
conditions for faster growth of economy and for more new jobs.
Our aim is long-term economic growth with the average annual rate of
five (5) percent, Racan said.
Commenting on the past 30 months, Racan said that the government had
known it was on the right path, although it was not always
successful in its decisions.
There is not much time until the end of the term of office, but it
should be wisely spent, he added.
The PM designate pledged to undertake far-reaching changes, and
some of them would take even more time than one year and a half.
At its ongoing extra-ordinary session, the Croatian parliament
should vote on the new programme of the government and on newly-
appointed ministers.
The new proposed ministers are Ante Simonic (Croatian Peasant
Party's member) as a vice premier, Zeljka Antunovic (Social
Democrat) as the defence minister, and she will also remain in the
office of a vice premier, Roland Zuvanic (Independent Liberal) as
the Transport Minister and two non-partisan candidates - Ljubo
Jurcic and Gvozden Flego - as ministers of economy and science
respectively.
Racan asked the Sabor to approve the enlargement of his cabinet by
one more ministerial post so that Gordana Sobol (Social Democrat)
may enter the government as the minister without portfolio and as
the future head of Premier's Office.
(hina) ms