RADOS ELECTED AS CROATIAN SOCIAL LIBERALS' ACTING PRESIDENT

ZAGREB, July 14 (Hina) - Jozo Rados, a Vice-President of the Croatian Social Liberals (HSLS), was elected by a majority of votes as the acting President of this party, during Saturday's session which the party's senior body called 'Veliko Vijece' held behind closed doors. Upon his election Rados announced that the HSLS would vote for confidence in the incumbent Croatian government, at a parliamentary session set for tomorrow.#L# In compliance with the party's rule book, Rados was proposed for this post by Drazen Budisa, who resigned as the HSLS president a few days ago, and Budisa's proposal was accompanied by the unanimous support of the party's top executive body 'Malo Vijece'. "My election as the acting president of the HSLS will not change the general political position of the part, and the HSLS will stick to its basic principles," Rados said after the Veliko Vijece's session. He expressed hope that party would become stronger and stabilised following the recent problems. Asked whether he would retain the office of Defence Minister and whether HSLS ministers would remain in the Ivica Racan Cabinet, Rados could not give any definitive answer. "Until a final decision, I am going to carry out my ministerial duty. The post of the HSLS acting president does not clash with the ministerial function, but is possible that I will not retain both posts. I shall decide on the matter after I hold consultations with Premier Racan in the coming days," Rados told reporters. As regards the question whether HSLS ministers would remain in the government he said he had no precise answer to it. He added that everything would be clearer soon, and the HSLS would take a final position tomorrow at the joint session of the HSLS parliamentarians and the 'Malo Vijece'. A week ago, of five HSLS members in the government, four offered resignation after the Ivica Racan Cabinet decided to comply with the UN war crimes tribunal's request for the hand-over of Croatian indictees. They tendered resignation as their party's leadership advised them to vote against the government's decision. However, during the voting on the said decision, only one HSLS member, Science Minister Hrvoje Kraljevic, voted against it, two HSLS Minister - Rados (of defence) and Goranko Fizulic (of economy) abstained and two HSLS memebrs in the Racan Cabinet - Racan's first deputy Goran Granic and Transport Minister Alojz Tusek - voted for the government's decision. Later on, all but Tusek said they would step down from their posts in the government, and this made Racan ask the Sabor to hold a vote in confidence in his cabinet. Asked whether HSLS MPs would vote in favour of confidence in the current Government, Rados answered that the HSLS was a member of the ruling coalition and therefore "it would be logical to express support to the Government." Today's session of the HSLS Veliko Vijece was marked by the resignation effective immediately, tendered by another party Vice- President, Josko Kontic. "In the parliament I will vote against confidence in the government, as I maintain that Croatian generals must not be extradited to the UN war crimes court (ICTY). And, I shall more easily bear the consequences of such stand of mine as an ordinary member of the HSLS," Kontic explained the reasons for his resignation. In this context, Kontic told reporters that his stand was identical with Budisa's and his resignation was a kind of support to the former HSLS leader. Rados was the only candidate for Budisa's successor. Another potential candidate, the party's Vice-President, Djurdja Adlesic, turned down the possibility for her candidacy, explaining that she had already been too busy with her duties in the Sabor and as the recently elected mayor of her hometown Bjelovar. Although he was expected, Drazen Budisa did not show up at today's session of Veliko Vijece. (hina) sb ms