MESIC SAYS HE WON'T MEDIATE IN GOVERNMENT-BISHOPS CONFLICT

PETRINJA, Nov 24 (Hina) - Talking to reporters after visiting a rebuilt factory near Petrinja on Saturday, President Stipe Mesic said he had "no reason at all" to mediate in the conflict between Croatia's bishops and the government. The conflict was caused by a recent message the bishops issued in connection with the social situation in the country, for which they criticised the government's policy, and the government's ensuing reaction. "The bishops gave their view of the current social situation, to which the other side responded rather harshly, but this can be settled at the table as arguments solve everything," said Mesic. The president declined to comment on the announced replacement of state prosecutor Radovan Ortynski and evaluate his work, only saying he was not authorised to "evaluate the performance of anyone in the judiciary, Mr Ortynski included." Mesic said, however, he was "not at all satisfied with the whole judiciary because of the excessive number of unsolved cases." "Croatia has the highest number of judges per capita, as well as the highest number of unsolved cases," he said, adding it was "up to those who took over the responsibility to clear this." "Who's to blame, let the whole system deal with it," said Mesic. (hina) ha