TOMCIC: HNS DOES NOT ACCEPT GOVT'S REPLY TO BISHOPS' STATEMENT

ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - The Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) does not accept the governments reply to the message of Croatian bishops who criticised the difficult social situation in the country, HSS president Zlatko Tomcic said on Sunday. Ahead of his visit to Greece, Tomcic, as the Croatian parliament speaker, was asked to comment on the intensified relations between the government and the Catholic Church, after the Croatian Bishops' Conference warned that a social state cannot be neglected in transition, after which the government the government voiced its concern at the closeness of the HBK views and those of right- wingers. "The HNS does not accept this government statement regarding the statement by the HBK," Tomcic said. The HNS did not take part in this and the party does not accept that some members of the ruling coalition speak on behalf of the coalition, the HNS president stressed. Tomcic said HNS ministers did not take part in composing the statement and added the government did not hold a session. He added "the HNS wants to implement discipline within the coalition" and added the party had no intentions of leaving the coalition for now. (hina) it