HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE SLAMS PRIME MINISTER'S CONDUCT

ZAGREB, Jan 23 (Hina) - The Croatian Helsinki Committee on Human Rights (HHO) believes the conduct of Prime Minister Ivica Racan and his deputy Slavko Linic in connection with an Administrative Court ruling on the annulment of ownership transformation in Rijeka Harbour is impermissible. In Tuesday's statement, the HHO assessed as dangerous for the rule- of-law that Linic recently sought the dismissal of the Administrative Court's judges who, according to the HHO, ruled in a manner Linic saw as wrong, as well as the fact that the prime minister supported him. "This is not a case of insulting the judiciary, but an attempt by the executive authority to interfere with the personnel policy of the judicial authority," read the statement, adding the public should condemn such occurrences so that "the division of authority can truly start functioning." Several members of the judiciary, as well as ruling and opposition politicians, have slammed Linic's statements to the effect that the Administrative Court ruling constituted "judicial crime" and that the "judges who signed it don't deserve to wear the judge's robe." Prime Minister Racan said yesterday the ruling was harmful for Croatia and that Linic was already bearing the consequences of his harsh reactions and insult of the judiciary. (hina) ha