ZAGREB, Feb 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Government is not happy with investments in the economy hitherto, so it has made its priority to increase investments, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said. At a regular monthly news conference
on Tuesday Racan answered reporters' questions, including about last week's bombing of an anti-fascist monument at Zagreb's central cemetery of Mirogoj. He voiced hope the ongoing investigation will yield results soon so perpetrators could be punished and similar incidents prevented in the future.
ZAGREB, Feb 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Government is not happy with
investments in the economy hitherto, so it has made its priority to
increase investments, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said.
At a regular monthly news conference on Tuesday Racan answered
reporters' questions, including about last week's bombing of an
anti-fascist monument at Zagreb's central cemetery of Mirogoj. He
voiced hope the ongoing investigation will yield results soon so
perpetrators could be punished and similar incidents prevented in
the future. #L#
Stressing that "democratic Croatia does not fear mindless
extremists," Racan said such incidents should not be
underestimated so as to prevent their reoccurrence.
Answering a question about the problem of Croatian citizens'
foreign exchange savings in Slovenia's Ljubljanska Bank, the Prime
Minister said Croatia's interest is not such to have it solved
through international arbitration or through the process of
succession, but rather via direct bilateral talks, much as other
problems in relations with Slovenia.
Racan was asked a question about the need for a border with Serbia on
the Danube River where some islands are Croatian territory and
where Croatian citizens, owners of this property, cannot reach it,
while Serbians have been felling Croatian forests. In reply, he
said he believes this problem will be solved with democratic
Serbia, dependent on the speed of the process of normalisation and
consolidation in Serbia itself.
"Could Croatia solve the problem by itself it would have already
done so," Racan said.
As far as illegal immigrants go, the Premier said Croatia is
interested in foreign assistance, but primarily through funds and
technology, not manpower as some western countries are
suggesting.
"The Ortynski case does not exist for the Croatian government,
rather a motion that Radovan Ortynski be state prosecutor, since
all we have learnt shows us there is no reason for the government to
bring its own suggestion into question," Racan said in reply to a
question referring to a public argument pertaining to Ortynski as
candidate for said office.
Asked what is being done to check the veracity of writings in the
media that Ortynski took part in snuffing out students'
demonstrations in 1971, Racan reiterated that there seems to be no
reason for the government to bring its motion into question, and
added the parliament's Justice Committee will discuss the issue
tomorrow.
Asked to comment on Defence Minister Jozo Rados's claim that "the
President has more authority than it is planned," the Prime
Minister said the government "does not intend to question the
constitutional rights and obligations of any factor in authority,
especially regarding the President of State with relation to
commanding the army."
Racan added the President will be consulted in the drafting of
several laws on national security.
(hina) lml sb