MESIC ON HIS AIDE'S WORK IN BOSNIAN PARTY'S PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

ZAGREB, Oct 27 (Hina) - Asked by reporters on his aide's engagement in the recent pre-election campaign of a party in Bosnia- Herzegovina, Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic said there were no obstacles for Sinisa Jagodic, his secretary in charge for public relations, to be professionally involved in the pre-election campaign of the party led by the Bosnian Croat businessmen, the Lijanovics, given that Jagodic voluntarily worked in Mesic's office. #L# The "Jutarnji List" daily ran, in its issue of the 25 October, an article on Jagodic's engagement in the promotion of the political party of Mladen Ivankovic Lijanovic before the recent general election in Bosnia. On Sunday, Mesic said Jagodic was not paid for his work in the President's office given that he worked there on a voluntary basis, and he was employed with a local radio called "Zagrebacki Radio". "If Jagodic is a volunteer in my office, then he can freely work, i.e. use his knowledge and experience where he is asked to do so. There is no reason for the conflict of interest. If he were asked by others for his engagement, he would probably help them as well. If he were called by Finns, then his work would be commended. But, when this was the case with a neighbouring country, some criticism was immediately voiced," the Croatian head of state said. In the daily's article, Jagodic said he was not paid for his work in Mesic's office and stressed that he on his own covered travel expenses when he went to Bosnia to work for the Lijanovics. (hina) ms