PM: COMMISSION ASSUMES PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR BUILDING ZAGREB-SPLIT HIGHWAY

ZAGREB, Oct 13 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Friday evening said the Zagreb-Split highway will be built in line with a government's decision, and added the commission for the building of the highway (led by the Prime Minister), was assuming personal responsibility for the project. The Prime Minister said this in the "Odjeci Dana" show on Friday evening. He reiterated the government was aware that the building of the Zagreb-Split highway was a huge project not only because its worth three billion German marks but because it had been a dream of the Croatian people for generations. Racan said this was not just any road linking Dalmatia, central and north Croatia but a road which should, and didn't until now, integrate Croatia. Speaking of a border agreement with neighbouring Slovenia, Prime Minister Racan said he did not advocate the international arbitration but that he was ready to accept if the two countries fail to reach a direct agreement. He also pointed to Croatia's long-term interest and warned that without the border agreement, Croatian roads would not have access to Europe and the issue of the Ljubljanska Banka would not be solved. He added it was extremely dangerous to have problems at our western borders in the time when the country is starting cooperation at eastern borders. Such a thing, in his opinion, would mean that Croatia remains in the Balkans longer than it had planned. Commenting on a verbal incident between representatives Anto Kovacevic and Vesna Pusic, which took place in the Croatian parliament on Friday, the Prime Minister said this was an example that something was wrong in communications in Croatia because there were too many insults and hatred speeches. (hina) it